Manara, the MENA region’s leading upskilling platform for computer science and AI talent, has launched the Cloud Catalyst Tech Forum 2026, a two-day event held in Riyadh on January 18–19, spotlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing technology workforce.
The forum brought together hiring partners from across the Kingdom to connect with top engineers graduating from Manara’s Saudi programs, delivered with support from Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initiative was designed to strengthen pathways between emerging engineers and Saudi Arabia’s fast-expanding engineering ecosystem.
A major highlight was a large-scale Generative AI Hackathon involving more than 1,000 participants building solutions aligned with national priorities using AWS cloud and AI infrastructure. Projects reflected themes tied to Vision 2030, demonstrating how homegrown talent is accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
The event featured keynote addresses, fireside chats, and panel discussions with senior leaders from public and private sectors, exploring the future of AI in Saudi Arabia, rapid cloud adoption, and the evolving impact of AI on the workforce and economy.
Amr El Selouky, CEO of Manara, said the initiative marks a new chapter in the company’s collaboration with AWS. He noted that as cloud adoption accelerates, forums like Cloud Catalyst ensure engineers are not only keeping pace but leading technological change locally and globally.
Coinciding with the forum, Manara signed a new social impact agreement with AWS, enabling investment of up to $2.8 million in AWS training through February 2028. The program aims to train, upskill, and certify more than 5,000 software engineers across the MENA region, with a strong focus on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
Manara’s ongoing collaboration with AWS supports its mission to build cloud and AI fluency while creating a sustainable pipeline of high-impact engineering talent for the region.
Forum participants highlighted the platform’s impact. Omar Badawi, a Manara graduate, said the program transformed theoretical knowledge into real-world engineering capability, giving him early exposure to AWS cloud technologies and access to a powerful regional network of peers.
Serena Barakat, AI Product Owner at PSI and a Manara hiring partner, described Badawi as adaptable, reliable, and creative, noting that his technical range and ownership mindset make him a valuable asset in fast-moving project environments.
Manara, a Silicon Valley-based company, is the region’s largest platform for software engineers and technologists. It aims to transform the Middle East and North Africa into a global hub for world-class talent by contextualizing Silicon Valley best practices for the regional workforce.
