Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 28, 2025 — In a landmark move that underscores the deepening technological partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and G42, the UAE-based global artificial intelligence leader, have announced an expanded collaboration to build a secure, scalable, and high-performance AI infrastructure in the Emirates.
The initiative represents a new chapter in the US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, aligning both nations’ efforts to foster trusted, sovereign AI ecosystems while driving regional and global innovation.
Laying the Foundation for the UAE’s AI Economy
Under the agreement, Cisco will power and secure G42’s large-scale AI cluster, which will be built using AMD’s latest MI350X GPUs. The system will incorporate Cisco’s full-stack AI infrastructure—spanning compute, networking, security, storage, optics, observability, and analytics—to deliver unified performance and governance for the UAE’s most advanced AI workloads.
As part of the deployment, Cisco will serve as the technology integrator within G42’s Regulated Technology Environment (RTE) — a compliance-driven framework designed to ensure that all advanced computing operates under strict standards of transparency, protection, and sovereignty. The RTE model is regarded as a gold standard for secure and compliant AI operations, preventing unauthorized data transfer or misuse.
A Partnership Anchored in Trust and Technology
The deepened partnership builds on ongoing joint initiatives under the US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, which includes flagship projects such as the 1GW Stargate UAE AI cluster currently under construction in Abu Dhabi and the recently announced 5GW UAE–US AI technology campus, unveiled during President Trump’s state visit to the UAE in May 2025.
Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, described the collaboration as a “defining moment” for both nations’ AI ambitions.
“This collaboration with Cisco represents the next phase of deepening trust and technological alignment between the US and UAE under the AI Acceleration Partnership,” Xiao said. “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.”
Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the company’s long-term commitment to the region’s digital transformation.
“Cisco is proud to deepen our partnership with G42, powering the UAE’s next wave of AI innovation by delivering secure, trusted, high-performance infrastructure,” Robbins said. “Together, we are building the foundation for a future driven by responsible and impactful innovation.”
Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, added that the collaboration demonstrates how public–private partnerships can accelerate technological leadership.
“AMD is proud to partner with Cisco and G42 to power the next generation of AI infrastructure in the UAE,” Su noted. “Our AMD Instinct MI350X accelerators deliver the performance, efficiency, and scalability needed to advance secure, sovereign AI innovation.”
Driving the Region’s Digital Momentum
The partnership arrives at a critical time for the UAE’s technology ecosystem. According to Cisco’s latest AI Readiness Report, 92% of UAE organizations plan to deploy AI agents, and 41% expect them to work alongside human employees within a year. Yet, only 25% currently possess sufficient GPU capacity to meet those demands — a gap that the Cisco–G42 initiative aims to close.
By delivering a secure, high-performance AI backbone, the collaboration seeks to position the UAE as a global benchmark for AI-powered governance, innovation, and digital resilience. It also reflects Cisco’s broader regional strategy of turning innovation into tangible impact and accelerating the transition toward data-driven economies.
Inside Cisco’s AI Infrastructure Stack
At the heart of this deployment lies Cisco’s end-to-end AI-ready data center solution, integrating every layer of the technology stack into a single, unified architecture. The infrastructure will include:
Cisco UCS 885A Servers equipped with AMD MI350X GPUs for advanced compute power.
Nexus 9K 800G switches to deliver high-speed, low-latency networking.
Firepower 4200 next-generation firewalls for comprehensive AI workload security.
Nexus Dashboard and Intersight for intelligent automation and compute management.
Cisco Optics to enable ultra-reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity.
VAST AI Operating System, hosted on UCS servers, to optimize workload performance.
The deployment will be supported by Cisco Advanced Services, covering planning, design, and implementation — ensuring the UAE’s AI systems meet the highest standards of scalability and operational resilience.
Strengthening a Trusted Technology Alliance
This collaboration also reinforces G42’s network of trusted US technology partners, all contributing to the RTE framework — a model designed to align international cooperation with national sovereignty. Both companies will work closely with U.S. government agencies to obtain necessary licenses and regulatory approvals, paving the way for full-scale deployment in the coming months.
The initiative further cements the UAE’s position as a global leader in responsible AI development, combining the expertise of American innovation leaders with the UAE’s vision for a secure, inclusive, and technologically advanced digital economy.
As AI continues to reshape industries worldwide, the Cisco–G42 partnership stands as a model for how nations can collaborate to balance progress, security, and trust in the era of intelligent infrastructure.
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