G42, a technology group based in the UAE, has entered into an agreement with Cisco, a key player in networking and security, to drive artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and infrastructure development across public and private sectors.
The agreement was announced in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
H.H. Sheikh Khaled highlighted that investing in AI, amid rapid digital transformation, plays a key role in shaping the future and turning challenges into opportunities to enhance the efficiency of priority economic sectors. AI has now become strategic imperative, contributing to the development of a competitive, knowledge-driven economy that drives comprehensive development and sustainable growth.
A meeting was held on the sidelines of the agreement announcement, which saw the presence of Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement; Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Crown Prince’s Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Peng Xiao, Group Chief Executive Officer of G42; and Chuck Robbins, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Cisco.
Peng Xiao Group CEO – G42
“This agreement with Cisco reflects our shared interest in exploring how AI infrastructure and innovation can be scaled responsibly and securely across markets. As G42 continues to expand its international footprint, we welcome the opportunity to align with organizations that value open collaboration, trusted ecosystems, and long-term impact. We look forward to identifying areas where our combined capabilities can support governments, enterprises, and communities in leveraging the full potential of AI.”
The partnership aims to explore collaboration opportunities across key areas, including a joint Go-to-Market initiative by integrating Cisco’s comprehensive secure AI portfolio, AI-native solutions and services, with G42’s regional presence, infrastructure expertise, and expanding global footprint to foster the effective adoption of AI in the UAE and beyond.
Cisco and G42 will also collaborate to develop a reference architecture, incorporating Cisco’s networking, security, and infrastructure solutions, specifically designed for high-performance computing. This collaboration will support customers in establishing and securing AI-ready data centers while advancing the development of AI workloads.
Chuck Robbins, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Cisco, added that, “AI is fundamentally changing our world, and to truly unlock its potential, we need to build a strong global ecosystem. Cisco is proud to join forces with G42 to deliver cutting-edge AI and digital infrastructure solutions to our customers at scale. Cisco is committed to supporting G42’s transformative vision for AI.”
This agreement falls in line with G42’s international growth ambitions and contribute to the broader objectives of the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031, which aims to cement the UAE’s position at the forefront of responsible AI development and deployment.
