How Ivalua Helped DCT Abu Dhabi Transforms its Procurement
The Department of Culture and Tourism for Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has overhauled its procurement operations to deliver savings and operational improvements. According to global spend management provider Ivalua, the transformation has generated savings exceeding AED 400m (US$109m) across 2024 and 2025. This positions the department as a benchmark for procurement excellence in the public sector.
The overhaul centred on digitalising contract management processes and establishing centralised repositories. Since the changes were implemented, procurement cycle times have been cut by 23%, while compliance violations dropped from more than 150 incidents in 2024 to around 10 annually. The department also secured a 92% maturity score in a Department of Government Enablement (DGE) assessment. This demonstrated enhanced governance and assurance capabilities.
DCT Abu Dhabi's procurement function was operating with processes that had developed organically over time. The operating model lacked consistency and visibility which created opportunities for improvement.
As a public-sector organisation responsible for delivering Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030 and strategic cultural initiatives, the department faced pressure to demonstrate greater value, productivity and transparency. This combination of external expectations and internal strategic vision elevated procurement from a transactional support function into a driver of operational growth.
Digitalising contract management processes
A central element of the transformation involved digitalising Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) through Ivalua's platform.
This shift enabled increased automation and enhanced compliance monitoring by improving process transparency and control. The platform provided DCT Abu Dhabi with a flexible solution that could support the department's strategic objectives while strengthening governance frameworks.
"Our procurement transformation is not just about efficiency; it is about creating a visionary operating system that raises standards, embeds fairness and generates measurable value across government and the national economy," says Khalifa Ahmed Al Marzooqi, Supply Management Department Director at DCT Abu Dhabi.
"Our collaboration with Ivalua has been instrumental in achieving these outcomes and positioning DCT Abu Dhabi as a leader in procurement modernisation."
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Measuring operational maturity scores
The significance of the achievement becomes clearer when considered against the emirate's public sector requirements.
The Department of Government Enablement (DGE) actively audits and scores government entities on their operational maturity. The 92% score achieved by DCT Abu Dhabi could signal to the Executive Council that the department is both investment-ready and operationally reliable.
The DGE mandates a unified, digital-first approach to procurement through the Abu Dhabi Government Procurement Gate. This ensures that expenditure contributes to the local economy.
Supporting strategic tourism goals
DCT Abu Dhabi operates as the engine behind the Tourism Strategy 2030. This strategy includes targets such as attracting 39.3m visitors annually and increasing the sector's GDP contribution to AED 90bn. The department oversees complex cultural projects including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
These projects require global procurement capabilities. The transformation has equipped the department with the operational agility needed to support these initiatives.
Dan Amzallag, Chief Operating Officer at Ivalua, adds: "We are honoured to support the Department of Culture and Tourism's transformative journey. Ivalua's platform has been a critical enabler of this success, providing a flexible, integrated solution that supports DCT Abu Dhabi's strategic goals.
"The partnership exemplifies how technology and process innovation can drive government-wide procurement excellence and economic impact."
The digitalisation of procurement processes has also enabled better tracking of In-Country Value (ICV) requirements and support for local small and medium-sized enterprises. By improving transparency and competition, the department can ensure that savings do not come at the expense of local business growth.
In a context where Abu Dhabi is diversifying away from oil dependency, procurement efficiency represents a mechanism for releasing capital to be reinvested into cultural festivals, tourism marketing campaigns and hospitality training programmes for UAE nationals.
