etisalat UAE has become the first telecom operator in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region to achieve accredited certification to ISO/IEC 42001:2023 for its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management System.

The certification follows an independent assessment by LRQA, a leading global provider of assurance, inspection and certification services, accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to certify organisations against ISO/IEC 42001, an Emirates News Agency (WAM) report said. 

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the world’s first international standard for AI management systems. It provides organisations with a structured framework for managing AI-related risks and opportunities while strengthening overall governance, reliability and continual improvement.

Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer, etisalat UAE, said: “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. It enables us to advance AI at scale while applying consistent controls that support responsible innovation and stakeholder confidence.”—TradeArabia News Service