Saudi Arabia Boosts AI Capabilities Through Major Partnerships With AMD, Cisco, and AWS

US tech firms AMD and Cisco, alongside Saudi AI company Humain, announced on Monday that advanced artificial intelligence computing infrastructure is now operational in Saudi Arabia. According to a news release from Cisco, this new computing power will support Humain customers both within the kingdom and internationally.

Humain Chief Executive Tareq Amin described the collaboration with AMD and Cisco as a strong vote of confidence in the organization. He stated that deploying this infrastructure into production proves Humain's capability to build, operate, and deliver large-scale advanced AI systems. Humain receives financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The newly launched AI network utilizes AMD's Instinct MI355X graphics processing units (GPUs) and EPYC central processing units (CPUs). AMD Chief Executive Lisa Su called the successful deployment of AMD Instinct systems in Saudi Arabia a significant milestone. Additionally, Humain will incorporate Cisco's Silicon One-based AI networking technology and N9000 Series platform. The joint venture among Humain, AMD, and Cisco remains on schedule to deploy up to 1GW of AI infrastructure across Saudi Arabia by 2030.

Representatives from all three companies emphasized that these current and future initiatives aim to enhance Saudi Arabia's AI sovereignty, defined as a nation's capacity to manage its digital infrastructure with reduced dependence on foreign entities. The news release notes that the platform will provide customers with enhanced oversight regarding data residency, model customization, and the deployment and governance of their AI systems.

Monday's announcement marks the first of many anticipated disclosures during Leap, a major annual technology exhibition held in Saudi Arabia. Amazon Web Services (AWS) also leveraged the week-long Leap news cycle to confirm that its AWS Cloud Infrastructure Region—initially announced in 2024—remains on track for a launch by the end of this year. This new AWS Region in Saudi Arabia will enable businesses, organizations, and start-ups to utilize data centers within the kingdom to host various applications and services, operating as another partnership within Humain's portfolio. AWS Chief Executive Matt Garman stated that the project with Humain will supply full-stack cloud and AI infrastructure designed to empower new industries, generate employment, and advance the objectives of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.