Zain KSA, a prominent telecommunications provider in Saudi Arabia, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cisco, a global leader in networking and security, to advance AI infrastructure and GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS). The agreement focuses on leveraging Cisco’s advanced infrastructure solutions to build secure, scalable AI workloads, enabling Zain KSA to offer reliable, high-performance GPU services in Saudi Arabia.

The partnership supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by driving digital transformation and positioning the Kingdom as a global AI innovation hub. Combining Zain KSA’s market knowledge and digital capabilities with Cisco’s AI infrastructure expertise, the collaboration aims to develop innovative solutions and business models to facilitate AI adoption across industries.

The MoU includes plans for training programs to enhance local talent, aligning with Zain KSA’s commitment to building national AI capabilities. Fahad Sahmi Al Sahmah, Zain KSA’s VP of B2B Sales, said: “At Zain KSA, we are mobilizing all our capabilities and investments to drive nationwide digital innovation, positioning the Kingdom as a global hub, a digital economy powered by future-looking GenAI solutions and applications. These efforts aim to empower all stakeholders, including government entities, businesses, and individuals, to harness the boundless potential of AI in support of national goals.”

Zayan Sadek, Cisco’s Managing Director for Service Providers in Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, stated: “Cisco is excited to collaborate with Zain KSA to pave the way for a transformative AI-powered future in Saudi Arabia. By combining Zain KSA’s digital expertise with Cisco’s cutting-edge AI infrastructure technologies, we aim to unlock new possibilities to empower businesses to thrive in the AI era and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for advanced technologies.”

The initiative strengthens Zain KSA’s efforts to create a robust digital ecosystem, supporting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in AI and digital innovation.