etisalat UAE earns first-of-its-kind MENA certification for AI governance

etisalat UAE has become the first telecommunications operator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to receive accredited ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management System, marking a milestone in its efforts to strengthen responsible AI governance.

The certification follows an independent assessment by LRQA, a global assurance and certification provider accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). It reflects the company’s efforts to establish a structured approach to managing AI technologies as their use expands across its services and operations.

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the first international standard dedicated to AI management systems, providing organizations with a framework for managing AI-related risks, strengthening accountability, and supporting continuous improvement.

The certification process involved collaboration across several departments within etisalat UAE, including Technology & Information, AI Engineering & Factory, Business Excellence, and business teams responsible for AI applications.

Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer at etisalat UAE, said establishing strong governance frameworks is essential as the company continues to scale its AI capabilities.

“As we expand the use of AI across our services and operations, strong governance must be developed alongside technical capability. ISO/IEC 42001 provides a structured approach to managing AI risks, evaluating impact, and maintaining appropriate human oversight throughout the lifecycle,” he said.

The certification introduces consistent requirements across the organization, covering AI risk assessments, transparency, accountability, human oversight, performance monitoring, and continuous evaluation.

It also establishes a common framework for employees involved in developing, deploying, and monitoring AI applications, ensuring that responsible AI principles are integrated throughout the technology lifecycle.

The development comes as etisalat UAE expands its AI initiatives into emerging areas such as agentic AI, AI-powered cybersecurity, and collaborative innovation.

These include agentic AI integrations, the University of Sharjah AI Innovation Lab, and NetSecure360, an AI-driven cybersecurity solution.

Through the AI Management System, the company aims to strengthen oversight of these technologies while providing customers and partners with greater clarity on how AI-enabled services are developed and managed.

The certification also supports etisalat UAE’s ambition to become a leading AI-powered telecommunications operator by incorporating defined governance requirements into its broader Responsible AI Framework.

The achievement aligns with the UAE’s wider ambitions to advance AI investment, innovation, and responsible technology adoption, reinforcing the importance of governance as AI becomes increasingly integrated into business operations and digital services.