Strategic Advancement of AI Infrastructure in the UAE
Key Developments:
- The recent announcement marks a pivotal advancement towards enhancing secure AI infrastructure in the UAE, echoing the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership’s objectives.
- Cisco is set to empower, connect, and secure a vast AI cluster implemented by G42, which will utilize AMD’s cutting-edge MI350X GPUs.
- This collaboration reinforces the integration of reliable US technology partners into G42’s ongoing AI infrastructure initiatives.
San Jose, California, and Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), an established leader in networking and security, alongside G42, a preeminent entity in artificial intelligence based in the UAE, has unveiled an extensive enhancement of their partnership aimed at fostering secure AI infrastructure.
This bold initiative underscores Cisco’s enduring commitment to facilitating digital advancements across the region, thereby establishing safe, trustworthy, and high-performance infrastructure tailored for the AI epoch.
A Solid Foundation for the UAE’s AI Ecosystem
Cisco will enable, connect, and secure a significant AI cluster operationalized by G42, harnessing AMD’s state-of-the-art MI350X GPUs.
This deployment amalgamates Cisco’s comprehensive, secure AI infrastructure, embedding compute, networking, security, storage, optics, and an array of observability and analytics tools, ensuring scalable performance and streamlined management for the region’s foremost AI workloads.
Cisco will also serve as the technology integrator within G42’s Regulated Technology Environment (RTE), a benchmark compliance and security framework designed to guarantee that advanced computing infrastructure operates under stringent protection, transparency, and governance standards, thereby mitigating unauthorized access, transfer, or exploitation of advanced computational systems.
This collaboration builds upon previous endeavors under the broader US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, an essential program aimed at propelling bilateral technological aspirations.
Noteworthy flagship projects include the 1GW Stargate UAE cluster currently under construction in Abu Dhabi and the 5GW UAE-US AI technology campus, which was revealed during President Trump’s state visit to the UAE in May 2025.
Perspectives from Leadership
Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, stated: This partnership with Cisco signifies a crucial evolution in fostering trust and technological cohesion between the US and UAE within the AI Acceleration Partnership framework.
It emphasizes our mutual dedication to establishing high-performance, secure, sovereign, and compliant AI infrastructure, thereby facilitating global innovation while adhering to the highest governance standards.
Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, remarked: Cisco is honored to deepen our collaboration with G42, catalyzing the UAE’s forthcoming wave of AI innovation through the provision of secure, trusted, high-performance infrastructure.
This alliance reinforces the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership and highlights Cisco’s integral role in the UAE’s digital transformation trajectory, laying the groundwork for a future characterized by responsible and impactful innovation.
Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, expressed: “AMD is privileged to ally with Cisco and G42 to drive the future of AI infrastructure in the UAE. Our AMD Instinct MI350X accelerators deliver the requisite performance, efficiency, and scalability essential for cultivating secure and sovereign AI innovation.
This initiative amplifies the UAE’s position as a global frontrunner in innovative AI development, exemplifying how technological collaborations like the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership can stimulate national digital objectives.”
Advancing the Region’s Digital Trajectory
According to Cisco’s recent AI research, an impressive 92% of organizations in the UAE intend to deploy AI agents, with 41% anticipating their collaboration with employees within a year. However, a mere 25% currently possess robust GPU capabilities.
This partnership endeavors to bridge that gap through the provision of scalable, secure AI infrastructure engineered for growth.
As AI ascends as the principal catalyst for innovation, Cisco’s involvement in digital transformation across the UAE is more crucial than ever.
This partnership signifies yet another decisive stride in Cisco’s strategy—transmuting innovation into tangible impact and expediting the region’s digital future.
Cisco’s Comprehensive AI Infrastructure
Cisco distinguishes itself by offering an end-to-end AI-ready data center solution, synergizing compute, networking, security, automation, and optics.
The deployment will leverage Cisco’s comprehensive AI-ready data center portfolio, featuring UCS 885A servers outfitted with AMD MI350X GPUs for compute, high-speed Nexus 9K 800G switches for networking, the VAST AI Operating System hosted on UCS servers, Firepower 4200 next-generation firewalls for security, Nexus Dashboard, and Intersight for network automation and compute management.
Additionally, it will incorporate the most advanced Cisco optics to facilitate unrivaled performance and dependability in networking, alongside Cisco Advanced Services for meticulous planning, design, and execution.
This collaboration further cements G42’s network of trusted US technology partners contributing to the RTE framework, bolstering a model grounded in transparency and accountability.
G42 and Cisco will collaborate closely with relevant US governmental agencies to secure the requisite licenses and regulatory approvals for deployment, which is anticipated to progress in the forthcoming months, contingent upon final authorizations.
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