Cisco and G42 Expand Partnership to Build Secure AI Infrastructure in UAE

Cisco and G42 Deepen Collaboration for Secure AI in UAE

Cisco, a global leader in networking and security, and G42, the UAE-based artificial intelligence powerhouse, announced a major expansion of their collaboration on October 28, 2025. This strategic partnership aims to advance secure, end-to-end AI infrastructure across the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing the objectives of the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership.

The initiative underscores Cisco's commitment to fostering digital advancements in the region by building trusted and high-performance infrastructure for the AI era.

Powering the Next Generation of AI Clusters

Under the expanded agreement, Cisco will play a pivotal role in powering, connecting, and securing a large-scale AI cluster to be deployed by G42. This advanced cluster will prominently feature AMD's MI350X GPUs, providing the computational backbone for sophisticated AI workloads.

Cisco's contribution will encompass a full-stack, secure AI infrastructure solution, integrating:

• Compute: Including UCS 885A servers
• Networking: Such as Nexus 9K 800G switches
• Security: Utilizing Firepower 4200 firewalls
• Storage
• Optics
• Observability and analytics tools

This comprehensive deployment is designed to deliver scalable performance and unified management for the UAE's most demanding AI applications.

Strengthening US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership

The collaboration is a direct alignment with the broader US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, a key program focused on advancing bilateral technology goals. This partnership includes flagship projects such as the 1GW Stargate UAE cluster currently under construction in Abu Dhabi and a 5GW UAE-US AI technology campus announced during President Trump's state visit to the UAE in May 2025.

Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, stated, '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. This collaboration strengthens the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership and underscores Cisco's role in the UAE's digital transformation journey.'

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, echoed this sentiment, noting, 'This collaboration with Cisco represents the next phase of deepening trust and technological alignment between the US and UAE under the AI Acceleration Partnership. It reinforces our shared commitment to building high-performance, secure, sovereign and compliant AI infrastructure.'

Addressing GPU Capacity Gaps and Regulatory Compliance

The partnership aims to address a critical gap in the UAE's AI landscape. Recent Cisco research indicates that while 92% of organizations in the UAE plan to deploy AI agents, and 41% expect them to work alongside employees within a year, only 25% currently possess sufficient GPU capacity.

Cisco will also serve as the technology integrator within G42's Regulated Technology Environment (RTE), a framework designed to ensure the highest levels of protection, transparency, and governance for advanced compute systems. The companies will work closely with relevant U.S. government agencies to obtain necessary licenses and regulatory clearances, with deployment expected to advance in the coming months pending final approvals.