Abu Dhabi/San Jose — In a landmark move to advance the US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, Cisco and G42 have announced an expanded collaboration focused on building a secure, high-performance AI infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. The initiative represents a major milestone in the UAE’s journey toward becoming a global leader in responsible and sovereign AI development.
Under the new partnership, Cisco will power, connect, and secure G42’s large-scale AI cluster using AMD’s latest MI350X GPUs. This deployment combines Cisco’s end-to-end AI-ready data center architecture — including compute, networking, security, optics, and observability tools — to ensure scalable performance and strong governance for some of the region’s most advanced AI workloads.
Laying the Foundation for UAE’s AI Ecosystem
The new AI cluster will operate within G42’s Regulated Technology Environment (RTE) — a compliance and security framework that enforces strict governance, transparency, and data protection standards. The RTE is designed to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of advanced computational systems while fostering trust, sovereignty, and interoperability between US and UAE technology ecosystems.
This collaboration builds upon earlier US–UAE AI initiatives, including the 1GW Stargate UAE cluster and the 5GW UAE–US AI Technology Campus, announced during President Trump’s 2025 visit to Abu Dhabi. Together, these projects form the backbone of the UAE’s national AI acceleration strategy, enhancing research, innovation, and high-performance computing capacity.
Leadership Perspectives
Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, emphasized the partnership’s strategic value:
“This collaboration with Cisco marks a crucial evolution in building trust and technological alignment between the US and UAE. It underscores our shared commitment to developing sovereign, secure, and high-performance AI infrastructure that balances innovation with strong governance.”
Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, said:
“Cisco is proud to deepen our collaboration with G42 to enable the next wave of AI innovation in the UAE. Through secure and scalable infrastructure, we’re helping to create a foundation for responsible, high-impact AI that supports the UAE’s digital transformation goals.”
Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, added:
“Partnering with Cisco and G42 allows us to deliver the performance and efficiency needed for secure AI innovation. The AMD Instinct MI350X accelerators are central to ensuring that this collaboration strengthens the UAE’s position as a global AI leader.”
Driving National and Regional AI Capacity
Recent Cisco research indicates that 92% of UAE organizations plan to deploy AI agents, yet only 25% currently possess sufficient GPU capabilities. The G42–Cisco partnership aims to bridge this capacity gap by enabling a secure, sovereign AI environment optimized for enterprise and government adoption.
The deployment will integrate Cisco’s UCS 885A servers with AMD GPUs, Nexus 9K 800G switches, Firepower 4200 firewalls, VAST AI OS, Intersight, and Nexus Dashboard for complete visibility and automation. The inclusion of Cisco’s advanced optics and AI observability tools ensures top-tier network reliability and efficiency.
Advancing Bilateral Tech Cooperation
This collaboration reflects a deepening of US–UAE technological ties. Both companies will work closely with US regulatory bodies to secure the necessary approvals for deployment in the coming months.
The partnership positions the UAE at the forefront of AI infrastructure innovation, combining American technological excellence with Emirati vision and governance, setting a global benchmark for secure, transparent, and future-ready AI ecosystems.
