Designing an AI-native future for maritime in the Middle East 

The maritime sector is undergoing a significant period of transformation, with AI emerging as a defining opportunity. As markets become more volatile, regulations more complex, and expectations for resilience and transparency increase, AI is enabling maritime leaders to fundamentally rethink how operations are planned, executed, monitored, and governed.

In the Middle East, where GCC regulators, port authorities, and national logistics programmes are shaping ambitious maritime agendas, there is a clear opportunity to lead the next wave of innovation—provided the right foundations for AI adoption and governance are in place.

AI rarely fails because the algorithms don’t work; it fails because organisations aren’t ready. This report explores how maritime organisations across the region can move beyond AI pilots to scalable, operational intelligence. It introduces an AI maturity curve that shows how organisations can progress from basic digital foundations to fully AI‑native ecosystems. 

Drawing on PwC’s work with port authorities, terminal operators, and other industry players, the report examines how AI can be embedded into operating models, decision-making and governance to deliver measurable value.

While AI adoption is accelerating across the global maritime sector, only a small proportion of organisations have progressed beyond experimentation. Many remain constrained by fragmented data, legacy systems, skills gaps and the absence of clear governance frameworks. Where the right foundations are in place, however, the impact of AI is tangible; from faster vessel turnaround and safer yards to more predictable cargo flows and stronger regulatory compliance.

The report highlights four areas where AI is already creating value across maritime operations:

• Generative and agentic AI, reducing administrative friction through automation and intelligent workflow coordination. 
• Combinatorics, enabling mathematically superior decision-making by evaluating millions of possible scenarios to improve precision and flow.
• Computer vision, enhancing situational awareness by detecting safety risks, tracking movements, and monitoring compliance. 
• Classical machine learning, anticipating congestion, risk and equipment failure, allowing ports to plan proactively rather than react.

Ultimately, AI will not simply optimise maritime operations; it will redefine them. The leaders who succeed will be those who treat AI as a new operating logic, built on organisational readiness, ecosystem coordination and trust.