ADNEC Partners with Presight to Revolutionise Venue Management with AI-Powered System

ADNEC Group is stepping deeper into artificial intelligence, signing a memorandum of understanding with Presight to roll out AI-powered smart venue management across its operations in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

The agreement covers ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, the largest event venue in the MENA region, and ADNEC Centre Al Ain. The goal is straightforward but ambitious: use applied AI to make events safer, smoother and more sustainable, while improving how the venues actually run day to day.

I’ve seen first-hand how chaotic large exhibitions can become, endless queues, traffic building up outside, waste piling in corners by the end of the day. It can be a bit of a faff, especially when millions of visitors move through a venue each year. So when a regional heavyweight like ADNEC talks about embedding AI at the core of operations, it feels more than just a buzzword exercise.

Under the partnership, ADNEC will integrate Presight’s AI-powered platform, known as Intelli, into its systems. The platform is designed to unify different operational streams, from traffic and visitor flow management to health and safety monitoring, crowd control and even waste management, into one connected, intelligent ecosystem. In practice, that means real-time data visibility and predictive insights that can help operators respond before small issues turn into bigger headaches.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said the organisation is constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience of exhibitors, visitors and event organisers while ensuring operations remain efficient, safe and environmentally responsible. He noted that access to what he described as “world-class, nation-level and sovereign-grade AI” would support these ambitions and further position Abu Dhabi as a global destination for innovation in event management.

From Presight’s side, Dr Adel Al Sharji, Chief Operating Officer, said the collaboration reflects a shared vision focused on operational excellence. By embedding AI capabilities into ADNEC’s venues, he explained, the aim is to transform how large-scale events are managed, making them smarter, safer and more sustainable. He added that applied intelligence allows complex data to be translated into real-time decisions that enhance the visitor experience.

And believe it or not, event management is becoming one of the more interesting testing grounds for AI in the region. Unlike controlled environments, exhibitions are dynamic. Thousands of moving parts. Different stakeholders. Changing schedules. If AI can make a meaningful difference here, it’s a strong signal for other sectors.

The move also aligns with the UAE’s broader push to lead in AI deployment at scale. Presight, which is listed in Abu Dhabi and majority-owned by G42, specialises in big data analytics and AI solutions across sectors, serving both public and private entities. Its focus on what it calls “applied intelligence” is about turning raw data into operational decisions, not just dashboards that look impressive in board meetings.

ADNEC Group itself has grown into a diversified powerhouse. Beyond its flagship Abu Dhabi and Al Ain centres, it operates the Business Design Centre and ExCeL London in the UK. Its portfolio stretches across events management through Capital Events, F&B via Capital Catering and Royal Catering Services, tourism through Tourism 365 and Capital Holidays, and media assets including twofour54. That breadth means any efficiency gain in venue management could ripple across multiple business lines.

On the flip side, AI in large public venues always raises questions around data governance and privacy. While the announcement focuses on operational efficiency and sustainability, the real test will be in execution. Technology is spot on only when properly implemented; otherwise, it’s just another costly layer of complexity.

Still, I reckon this is a strategic move that makes sense. The region’s events industry is intensely competitive, and venues are under pressure to prove they are not just bigger, but smarter. If ADNEC and Presight manage to deliver what they promise, the partnership could set a new standard for how mega-venues operate, not only in the GCC, but globally.

For startups across MENA watching from the sidelines, there’s an important lesson here. Applied AI is no longer theoretical. It’s moving into physical infrastructure, into spaces where people gather, work and connect. And that definately opens the door for a new generation of tech companies building solutions around smart cities, logistics, sustainability and beyond.

Big ambitions, yes. But in this case, not just hot air. We’ll see how it unfolds.

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