IT Director of the Year

Abu Dhabi Customs (ADC) is a strategic government authority responsible for safeguarding national borders while facilitating legitimate trade across one of the world’s most dynamic economic corridors. As a key enabler of the UAE’s economic vision, ADC plays a vital role in strengthening border security, supporting global trade flows, and advancing the country’s ambition to become a leading international logistics and trade hub. Over the years, the authority has evolved into a regional benchmark for customs modernization and digital government innovation.
Within this critical environment, Yanal Alkhasoneh, Director of Information Technology at ADC, leads the organization’s technology strategy and digital transformation agenda. With more than 25 years of experience in IT leadership, cybersecurity, and large-scale government technology modernization, Yanal oversees the strategy, development, and governance of mission-critical digital platforms that enable customs operations, border management, and international trade facilitation.
His responsibilities span enterprise technology strategy, digital platforms, enterprise architecture, data and artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity, and service management. Under his leadership, ADC’s technology ecosystem supports thousands of daily trade transactions, connects customs officers with logistics stakeholders, and enables secure digital interaction with global trade partners.
Recognizing the strategic role of technology in modern border management, Yanal has transformed the IT function from a traditional operational support unit into a strategic innovation engine driving government digital transformation. Under his leadership, ADC has accelerated the modernization of its technology landscape through the adoption of advanced technologies including artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analytics, and intelligent automation.
A central pillar of Yanal’s leadership is his vision of “Invisible Customs”, a future-ready operating model where customs processes become seamless, predictive, and fully integrated within global digital trade ecosystems. Through this vision, he has positioned ADC as a regional and international benchmark for technology-enabled customs modernization, delivering measurable value to government entities, businesses, and the global trade community.