Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) emerged among the major winners at the AI World Series Awards 2026, highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence in the UAE’s government services and industrial operations.
The third annual awards ceremony took place on October 8, 2026, at Dubai Silicon Oasis. Organised by the AI for Business Institute, the event recognised organisations using artificial intelligence to improve customer experiences, business processes, workforce capabilities and operational performance.
The programme presented awards across 16 categories, alongside an overall winner distinction. Dubai RTA collected two awards for customer engagement and conversational AI, while ADNOC secured recognition for AI workforce transformation.
Czech banking institution Česká Spořitelna received the Overall Winner 2026 title, and British technology company Intent HQ earned the AI Solution of the Year award.
Dubai RTA Secures Two Awards for AI-Powered Customer Services
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority received two major distinctions at the AI World Series Awards 2026, winning the AI for Customer Engagement & Experience and Best Conversational AI Implementation (Customer Virtual Assistant) categories. The authority also earned a highly commended recognition in the AI Solution of the Year category.
The recognition reflects RTA’s efforts to make artificial intelligence a practical part of Dubai’s transport services. Instead of relying entirely on traditional customer support channels, the authority has introduced intelligent systems that help residents and visitors access information, complete transactions and interact with government services more efficiently.
One example is Mahboub, RTA’s AI-powered virtual assistant, which supports customers seeking information about transport services. The authority has also explored predictive analytics, intelligent traffic management and automation to improve its wider operations.
In April 2025, RTA launched its AI Strategy 2030, outlining 81 projects and initiatives designed to improve mobility, customer experience and employee productivity. The strategy targets a 20% to 30% reduction in travel time through smarter traffic management and a 25% to 40% improvement in workforce productivity. These remain strategic goals rather than confirmed results.
RTA’s latest awards highlight how Dubai is moving beyond AI demonstrations and applying the technology to services that people use every day.
ADNOC Recognised for Transforming Its Workforce Through AI
ADNOC secured the AI Workforce Transformation award, recognising its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into workforce operations across the energy industry. The Abu Dhabi-based company also received a highly commended distinction in the AI for Business Transformation category.
Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly important part of ADNOC’s operational strategy. The company uses advanced analytics, automation and intelligent monitoring technologies to support employees working in technically demanding environments.
In August 2026, ADNOC announced the deployment of an AI-enabled Real-Time Operations Center across more than 120 drilling rigs in collaboration with SLB. The system gives engineers greater visibility into drilling activities and helps them monitor operations through a centralised digital platform.
According to ADNOC, the technology reduces engineering effort by 30% to 40% and enables engineers to oversee two to three times more rigs while maintaining operational oversight.
The development illustrates how AI can change workforce responsibilities in industrial settings. Engineers can spend less time reviewing routine operational information and more time addressing complex technical challenges.
ADNOC’s recognition also reflects the UAE energy sector’s increasing investment in digital capabilities, particularly technologies that support efficiency, reliability and better decision-making.
Intent HQ Wins AI Solution of the Year
British technology company Intent HQ received the AI Solution of the Year award, placing it among the leading organisations recognised during the 2026 ceremony. Dubai RTA also received a highly commended distinction in the same category.
The award comes at a time when businesses are placing greater emphasis on AI solutions that address specific operational problems. Companies are increasingly looking beyond experimental tools and evaluating whether artificial intelligence can deliver reliable results in real working environments.
For technology providers, this creates pressure to demonstrate practical value. AI platforms must do more than generate impressive demonstrations. They need to work with existing systems, handle complex information and support business requirements without introducing unnecessary risks.
Intent HQ’s recognition adds to the growing international attention surrounding commercially deployed artificial intelligence, particularly as organisations seek technologies that can support long-term business transformation.
Czech Bank Česká Spořitelna Named Overall Winner 2026
Czech banking institution Česká Spořitelna received the Overall Winner 2026 title, securing one of the ceremony’s highest distinctions. The bank also won the AI for Risk, Fraud & Security category and received highly commended recognition in AI in Marketing and Best Conversational AI Implementation for a customer virtual assistant.
The awards reflect the expanding use of artificial intelligence in financial services, where banks increasingly depend on advanced systems to detect suspicious activity, assess risks and improve digital customer interactions.
Financial institutions face particular challenges when introducing AI because their systems handle sensitive information and support decisions that can directly affect customers. Accuracy, transparency and regulatory compliance remain essential considerations.
Česká Spořitelna’s success highlights how AI innovation is extending across international banking markets, with institutions exploring ways to improve operational efficiency while maintaining security and customer trust.
AI World Series Awards Recognise Innovation Across Multiple Industries
The AI World Series Awards 2026 recognised organisations working across sectors including biotechnology, maritime services, real estate, education, marketing and enterprise technology. German biotechnology company QIAGEN won the AI for Business Transformation category, while Noatum Maritime received the AI for Operational Excellence award.
Bank ABC secured the Best Conversational AI Implementation award for its employee virtual assistant, reflecting growing interest in AI tools designed to support internal teams rather than only customer-facing services.
INDECX won the AI Enabled Product or Platform category, while Deep Knowledge Group, working with Keel Comms, received recognition for Data, Analytics & AI Insights. In the property sector, Gaia Living secured the Data & AI for Real Estate award, and Exalogic Consulting won Proptech Innovation.
Afia, in collaboration with Savola, earned the AI in Marketing award. Ureka received recognition in the AI Ethics, Governance & Responsible AI category, while DLady App won the emerging-company distinction. Kezana also secured the AI in Education award.
The diversity of winners demonstrates how artificial intelligence is finding applications in industries with different requirements. A transport authority may use AI to answer passenger questions, while a bank focuses on fraud detection and an energy company applies intelligent systems to drilling operations.
These applications share a common objective: reducing repetitive work, improving access to information and helping organisations make better decisions.
UAE Strengthens Its Position in Global AI Adoption
The achievements of Dubai RTA and ADNOC reflect the UAE’s wider ambitions to become a leading centre for artificial intelligence development and adoption. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have introduced initiatives designed to bring AI into government services, infrastructure, research and major industries.
Dubai has increasingly focused on digital government services, intelligent mobility and business innovation. Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, continues to develop AI capabilities across energy, research, enterprise technology and public administration.
What makes the latest awards significant is the difference between the two UAE winners. RTA’s recognition centres on customer-facing technology, where AI can help people access government services more conveniently. ADNOC’s award focuses on workforce transformation in an industry where operational reliability and technical expertise are essential.
The awards also arrive as organisations face growing pressure to demonstrate measurable returns from AI investments. Launching a new platform may attract attention, but maintaining reliable performance and delivering meaningful improvements remain more difficult challenges.
For the UAE, the recognition offers another indication that artificial intelligence is becoming part of established business and government operations. The longer-term test will be whether these technologies continue to improve services, productivity and operational outcomes.
AI World Series Awards 2027 Opens for Submissions
Following the 2026 ceremony, organisers opened submissions for the next edition of the AI World Series Awards, with entries scheduled to close on May 28, 2027.
The programme provides organisations with an opportunity to showcase artificial intelligence projects across industries, from enterprise productivity and customer engagement to responsible AI and emerging technology applications.
For businesses developing AI solutions, the awards offer international exposure and a platform to demonstrate how their technologies address real operational challenges.
The 2026 results also highlight a broader shift in the global AI landscape. Recognition is increasingly extending beyond companies that build AI models to organisations that apply those technologies in everyday operations.
Dubai RTA and ADNOC represent two different examples of that transition. One is reshaping customer interactions across a major transport network. The other is introducing intelligent systems into complex energy operations.
Their achievements at the AI World Series Awards 2026 reinforce the UAE’s growing presence in international AI discussions, with practical implementation becoming an increasingly important measure of progress.
