AD Ports Group, a leading global enabler of integrated trade, industry and logistics solutions, has been recognised at the 11th International Best Practice Competition, organised by the Centre for Organisational Excellence Research, securing eight awards across four categories, and earning recognition for 18 best practices, of which, four practices were awarded the prestigious six- and seven-star ratings, the highest distinctions under the competition’s evaluation framework.

The recognition highlights AD Ports Group’s continued commitment to excellence, innovation and improvement across its businesses. The award-winning submissions represent 18 best practices from the Group’s clusters and business units, reflecting the strong performance of its subsidiaries and their alignment with internationally recognised excellence standards.

The awards were presented during the IBPC Awards Ceremony hosted by AD Ports Group at KEZAD Headquarters. The event gathered professionals and organisations from across multiple sectors to celebrate excellence and the exchange of proven best practices. It also served as a platform for learning, benchmarking and dialogue on how best-in-class practices can enhance performance, sustainability and organisational resilience.

The 11th International Best Practice Competition was highly competitive, featuring 112 best practices submitted by 62 organisations across 14 countries, assessed by a panel of 65 international experts. AD Ports Group’s recognised practices stood out for their innovation, measurable impact and strong alignment with international best-practice frameworks.

Eiman Al Khalaqi, Senior Vice President of Innovation at AD Ports Group, said: “At AD Ports Group, best practices extend beyond operational processes, they form a core pillar of our operational and managerial excellence. Initiatives such as the “Tawfeer Committee”, which drives efficiency and value optimisation, and “IntelliOps”, which enhances real-time asset management, demonstrate our disciplined approach in transforming innovation into measurable and sustainable outcomes.”

Al Khalaqi added: “These recognitions reflect the Group’s ability to align strategic priorities with effective execution, foster collaboration across its business clusters, and deliver long-term value to stakeholders. Through the continuous refinement of our practices, AD Ports Group not only strengthens its operational excellence, but also sets new industry benchmarks.”

The Group’s commitment to excellence was reflected in the following recognitions:

Major Awards:

1. Improvement Initiatives Category (Rating: Seven)

Tawfeer Committee: “Driving Savings and Improvement Across Organisations” – Strategy & Growth Unit.

1. Management of Assets Category (Rating: Six)

IntelliOps: Real-Time Assets Optimisation at AD Ports Group – Noatum Ports (jointly with Ports Cluster).

1. Supplier Relationships & Partnerships Category (Rating: Six)

Collaborative Paper Pulp Operations Hub – Ports Cluster.

1. Strategic Planning Category (Rating: Six)

From Digital Foundation to Centralised Planning Excellence – Ports Cluster.

Pioneer in Excellence Prizes:

• Highest number of practices rated six and above – AD Ports Group (4 Best Practices).
• Highest number of practices rated five and above – AD Ports Group (11 Best Practices).
• Highest number of practices rated four and above – AD Ports Group (15 Best Practices).

Certificate of Distinction in International Best Practices (2025):

• AD Ports Group – Recognised for 11 best practices rated five and above.

The 18 recognised practices spanned operational and advanced digitalisation initiatives, including real‑time asset optimisation, centralised planning excellence, and enhanced vessel traffic services, alongside transformative sustainability solutions including eco‑friendly seawall panels, EV fleet integration, and advanced hull‑coating technologies.

Notable submissions also highlighted the Group’s strong commitment to people development and organisational resilience, featuring proactive crisis‑management frameworks, impactful process‑improvement initiatives, comprehensive well‑being programmes, enhanced facilities services models, and simplified safety‑reporting tools.

Collectively, these distinguished practices reflect AD Ports Group’s ongoing commitment to setting global benchmarks and driving continuous, sustainable improvement across all of the Group’s business units.