Key Takeaways:
- e& has signed a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) worth over $1 billion (AED 3.7 billion) to boost cloud innovation and digital transformation in the UAE and beyond.
- The collaboration aims to provide core cloud services including storage, computing, networking, cybersecurity, AI, and machine learning.
- The initiative supports the UAE’s digital economy and includes plans for local talent development and upskilling in cloud technologies and AI.
e& has entered into a significant partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), committing over $1 billion (AED 3.7 billion) to enhance cloud-driven innovation and digital transformation across the region over the next six years.
The partnership focuses on delivering essential cloud services such as storage, computing, networking, cybersecurity, as well as advanced capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This strategic move follows AWS’s launch of its second cloud region in the UAE in 2022, which included a planned investment of $5 billion (AED 20 billion) in the local economy through to 2036.
This alliance combines AWS’s cloud infrastructure and solutions, designed with sovereignty in mind, with e&’s extensive network capabilities to meet stringent customer requirements across public sector and regulated industries, including healthcare, finance, and oil and gas. Together, the companies will provide secure and scalable cloud solutions, reinforcing e&’s role as a key enabler of the UAE’s digital economy and opening new growth avenues for businesses of all sizes.
Through this partnership, e& will leverage over 200 fully featured services from AWS to modernize platforms such as Starzplay Arabia, a streaming service where e& holds a majority stake, and Careem, the region’s comprehensive app for food delivery, mobility, and digital payments. Additionally, e& plans to expand its AI capabilities and Smart Home services, allowing customers to earn Smiles points when shopping on Amazon.
AWS will also empower hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing access to the AWS Marketplace, enabling them to discover, deploy, and manage software hosted on AWS, thus democratizing access to cloud technology. This includes transformative access to generative AI tools for businesses of all sizes and development levels.
The partnership is particularly timely, as cloud adoption continues to reshape public sector services and enterprises in the region. According to PwC, nearly 70% of Middle Eastern companies plan to migrate most of their operations to the cloud within the next two years. A report by Telecom Advisory Services anticipates that public cloud adoption could generate $733 billion in economic value across the Middle East and North Africa by 2033.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, stated, “This agreement with AWS demonstrates our shared long-term strategic goal to create an ecosystem that supports today’s digital needs and lays the foundation for future growth. We are enabling businesses across the region to lead in an AI-powered, data-driven economy. By investing in both critical infrastructure and talent development, we’re again supporting the region’s economy, digital resilience, and, most importantly, its people, who will be instrumental in realizing the UAE’s vision of becoming a world-leading digital powerhouse.”
Tanuja Randery, Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at AWS, remarked, “This collaboration marks another significant step in our ongoing investment in the UAE, which has emerged as an international force driving innovation. Our partnership with e& underscores AWS’s deep commitment to both the UAE and the wider Middle East, particularly in fast-tracking UAE Vision 2031.”
To further accelerate digital transformation, e& and AWS will develop a local upskilling initiative, providing training opportunities to thousands of individuals, including UAE nationals, in cloud technologies and AI. Randery added, “Our investment in developing the skills of UAE nationals will have a positive impact on the region’s economic growth and technological leadership.”
Salvador Anglada, CEO of e& enterprise, emphasized that the partnership is a game-changer for customers. “By combining AWS’s advanced cloud capabilities with e&’s local expertise, we will empower businesses across the region with the tools and infrastructure to accelerate their digital transformation and become more agile to scale as they innovate faster. Most importantly, our shared commitment to investing in training ensures that the region will have a highly skilled workforce ready to lead in the AI-driven economy of the future.”
