Abu Dhabi Customs takes home two wins at Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025

It was recognised as the winner of the Blockchain - Government and the Cybersecurity - Government categories.

The General Administration of Customs – Abu Dhabi (ADC) bagged two major category wins in the esteemed Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025 for its advanced blockchain-based platform TradeChain that has revolutionised shipment data exchange amongst stakeholders, as well as its comprehensive cybersecurity framework CyberHorizon that safeguards critical assets and strengthens resilience against evolving cyber threats.

ADC TradeChain, which won the Blockchain - Government category and is a flagship component of the Invisible Custom, enhances trade facilitation through faster clearance, improved data accuracy, and secure digital transactions as it integrates with global blockchain networks. It strengthens risk management and customs examination by providing verifiable and tamper-proof data, ensuring compliance, security, and efficiency in trade operations.

Its development has been mainly driven by key challenges in international trade and customs operations, such as data inaccuracy, delays, and operational complexities. ADC has collaborated with key stakeholders, including trade partners, blockchain providers, and businesses, to design and implement the platform.

With TradeChain, shipment processing time has plummeted from 20 minutes to 6.1 minutes. More than just efficiency, it champions sustainability by digitising customs processes and reducing paper waste, as well as lowering CO₂ emissions through advanced pre-arrival declarations.

The platform is designed for scalability and continuous improvement to keep pace with global trade dynamics. It ensures alignment with evolving global trade laws, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain innovations to enhance automation and risk detection, and improvements in user experience and platform accessibility.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Customs has been named the winner in the Cybersecurity - Government category, recognising its groundbreaking initiative, ADC CyberHorizon, for its strategic approach to digital protection and innovation.

CyberHorizon marks a significant milestone in ADC’s cybersecurity journey, showcasing the agency’s commitment to a comprehensive lifecycle management strategy. By integrating advanced technologies and streamlined processes, ADC has successfully fortified its digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.

A cornerstone of the initiative is the implementation of a unified cybersecurity governance model, aligning internal operations with both quality management principles and national cybersecurity standards. This framework has enabled ADC to deploy AI-powered threat intelligence systems, enhancing predictive analytics and automating threat detection and response mechanisms.

Further elevating its capabilities, ADC introduced behavioural analytics and machine learning algorithms, allowing for more accurate and proactive identification of potential threats. The agency also pioneered the rollout of online cybersecurity awareness training, significantly boosting employee engagement and improving overall security hygiene.

Amongst the initiative’s most notable achievements is ADC’s successful transition to ISO 27001:2022 certification for Information Security Management across all departments. The organisation also attained 100% compliance with UAE Government Security Standards, both in technical assessments and security controls.

To support real-time threat monitoring, ADC established a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC), which has earned top performance ratings and full compliance status. Between 2021 and 2024, the SOC mitigated 373 security risks, contributing to a marked improvement in detection rates.

ADC CyberHorizon initiative stands as a benchmark for Government sector cybersecurity excellence, reflecting Abu Dhabi Customs’ unwavering dedication to safeguarding national digital assets and fostering a secure digital future.

Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025 honours the remarkable achievements of both homegrown and international institutions in shaping the Middle East’s evolving technological landscape, acknowledging their innovations, strategic growth, and contributions to economic and community development.

The Middle East Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].