Cisco And G42 Deepen US-UAE Technology Partnership To Enhance Secure AI Infrastructure

Cisco and G42 have announced an expanded partnership to enhance secure AI infrastructure in the UAE. This collaboration highlights Cisco's dedication to advancing digital technology in the region by building a secure and high-performance infrastructure for AI. The initiative will utilise AMD's MI350X GPUs, integrating Cisco’s comprehensive AI infrastructure, including compute, networking, security, and analytics tools, to support advanced AI workloads.

The deployment will feature Cisco’s end-to-end AI-ready data center solution. This includes UCS 885A servers with AMD MI350X GPUs for computing, Nexus 9K 800G switches for networking, and Firepower 4200 firewalls for security. Additionally, the VAST AI Operating System will be hosted on UCS servers, with Nexus Dashboard and Intersight facilitating network automation and management.

This collaboration builds on the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, which aims to advance bilateral technology goals. Key projects under this partnership include the Stargate UAE cluster in Abu Dhabi and a new AI technology campus announced during President Trump's visit to the UAE in May 2025. These initiatives are pivotal in fostering technological alignment between the two nations.

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, stated that this collaboration marks a new phase of trust and technological alignment between the US and UAE. "It reinforces our shared commitment to building high-performance, secure, sovereign and compliant AI infrastructure that enables global innovation while upholding the highest standards of governance," he said.

Cisco's involvement in digital transformation across the UAE is crucial as AI becomes a primary innovation driver. The company aims to turn innovation into impact by accelerating the region's digital future through this collaboration. This initiative also addresses a significant gap identified in Cisco’s latest AI research: only 25% of UAE organisations have robust GPU capacity despite plans to deploy AI agents.

Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, expressed pride in deepening their partnership with G42. "This collaboration strengthens the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership and underscores Cisco’s role in the UAE’s digital transformation journey," he said. "Together, we are building the foundation for a future driven by responsible and impactful innovation."

Ensuring Compliance and Security

Cisco will serve as the technology integrator within G42’s Regulated Technology Environment (RTE), ensuring compliance with high protection standards. This framework prevents unauthorized access or misuse of advanced compute systems while maintaining transparency and governance. The collaboration further solidifies G42’s network of trusted US technology partners contributing to this model.

Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, highlighted their role in powering next-generation AI infrastructure in the UAE alongside Cisco and G42. "Our AMD Instinct MI350X accelerators deliver performance, efficiency, and scalability needed to advance secure, sovereign AI innovation," she said.

Future Prospects

G42 and Cisco will collaborate closely with relevant US government agencies to obtain necessary licenses for deployment. Approvals are expected soon as they work towards advancing this initiative over the coming months. This partnership is set to strengthen both companies' positions as leaders in innovative AI development globally.

With inputs from WAM