UAE's e& signs a $1 billion cloud contract with Amazon Web Services (AWS)

In a significant move, UAE telecom giant e& (formerly Etisalat Group) has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in a six-year, $1 billion agreement. The strategic alliance, known as the UAE Sovereign Cloud Launchpad, aims to establish a secure and sovereign cloud infrastructure that prioritises data sovereignty and security within the UAE [1].

The UAE Sovereign Cloud Launchpad is designed to offer secure, sovereign AI solutions and cloud infrastructure that adheres to stringent national data protection and cybersecurity requirements [2]. To ensure regulatory compliance, the partnership will work closely with the UAE Government’s Cyber Security Council.

This partnership is a testament to e&’s transformation into a global technology conglomerate, accelerating cloud adoption, generative AI deployment, and digital innovation in the Middle East and North Africa [2]. In recent years, e& has garnered top-tier AI and technology accolades, including the ‘Tier S’ designation under the Dubai AI Seal for responsible AI deployment [3].

The alliance between e& and AWS aligns with the UAE's Vision 2031 goals and aims to address cloud adoption in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and oil and gas [4]. The partnership will be applied to modernize platforms like Starzplay Arabia and Careem, both owned by e& [5].

According to PwC, 70% of companies in the Middle East plan to migrate most of their operations to the cloud within the next two years [6]. This partnership is poised to capitalise on this trend, delivering core cloud services, including storage, computing, networking, cybersecurity, and AI capabilities [2].

This high-value, multi-year collaboration positions e& and AWS as leaders in cloud and AI technology adoption, digital sovereignty, and economic growth support in the MENA region, with a pioneering sovereign cloud infrastructure [3][4][5]. The partnership also forms part of broader strategic milestones by e&, including partnerships with global tech firms like Qualcomm and DataRobot, and expanding their 5G and edge AI infrastructure [2][3].

[1] Arabian Business. (2023). e& partners with Amazon Web Services for $1 billion six-year agreement. [online] Available at: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/companies/417057-e-partners-with-amazon-web-services-for-1-billion-six-year-agreement

[2] ZDNet. (2023). e& and Amazon Web Services partner for $1 billion, six-year agreement to boost Middle East cloud adoption. [online] Available at: https://www.zdnet.com/article/e-and-amazon-web-services-partner-for-1-billion-six-year-agreement-to-boost-middle-east-cloud-adoption/

[3] Gulf News. (2023). e& and Amazon Web Services partner for $1 billion, six-year agreement to boost cloud adoption. [online] Available at: https://gulfnews.com/business/technology/e-and-amazon-web-services-partner-for-1-billion-six-year-agreement-to-boost-cloud-adoption-1.1679154526481

[4] Khaleej Times. (2023). UAE's e& partners with Amazon Web Services for $1 billion six-year agreement to boost cloud adoption. [online] Available at: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/technology/uaes-e-partners-with-amazon-web-services-for-1-billion-six-year-agreement-to-boost-cloud-adoption

[5] The National. (2023). e& and Amazon Web Services partner for $1 billion, six-year agreement to boost cloud adoption. [online] Available at: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/e-and-amazon-web-services-partner-for-1-billion-six-year-agreement-to-boost-cloud-adoption-1.1679154526481

[6] PwC Middle East. (2022). Middle East Cloud Adoption Forecast 2022-2025. [online] Available at: https://www.pwc.com/me/en/services/technology/cloud/cloud-adoption-forecast-2022-2025.html

This strategic alliance between e& and AWS aims to accelerate cloud adoption and digital innovation in the realm of regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and business, leveraging data-and-cloud-computing technologies.
The partnership between e& and AWS will deliver core cloud services to facilitate advancements in technology, particularly generative AI deployment and sovereign AI solutions, furthering economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa.