Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence powerhouse, G42, has announced a significant infrastructure collaboration with US technology giant Cisco. The partnership will see the deployment of a large-scale AI cluster powered by AMD Instinct MI350X GPUs, forming a crucial part of the ambitious 5 Gigawatt (GW) UAE-US AI Campus.
A Strategic Infrastructure Partnership
Under the agreement, Cisco will provide a comprehensive, end-to-end infrastructure solution encompassing compute, networking, security, storage, and optics. The US firm will also serve as the technology integrator, operating within G42’s Regulated Technology Environment. This compliance and security framework is designed to ensure that the advanced compute infrastructure operates with the highest levels of protection, transparency, and governance, preventing any unauthorised access, transfer, or misuse of technology. The full-stack deployment will include Cisco’s UCS 885A servers, Nexus 9K 800G switches, and Firepower 4200 firewalls.
Powering AI with Next-Generation GPUs
The new AI cluster will leverage AMD’s latest Instinct MI350X GPUs, positioning the UAE at the forefront of AI hardware adoption. Built on the CDNA 4 architecture, these GPUs feature 288GB of HBM3E memory and deliver a generational improvement of up to four times in AI compute power and a 35-fold enhancement in inferencing performance. The deployment of AMD’s new Instinct series, a direct competitor to NVIDIA’s H100 and H200 chips, underscores a strategic move to diversify high-performance computing supply chains while aiming for total cost of ownership (TCO) advantages.
Advancing the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership
This collaboration is a key development within the broader US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership. It builds upon flagship projects such as the 1GW Stargate UAE cluster, currently under construction in Abu Dhabi, and the 5GW UAE-US AI technology campus announced in May 2025. The campus, spanning 10 square miles, is set to be the largest AI datacentre deployment outside the United States, designed to provide sovereign AI compute at scale for the region. G42 and Cisco will work with US government agencies to secure the necessary licenses for the deployment, which is expected to move forward in the coming months pending final approvals.
About G42
G42 is an Abu Dhabi-based global leader in artificial intelligence and cloud computing, dedicated to creating visionary AI for a better tomorrow. The company operates across various sectors, including government services, healthcare, finance, and telecommunications, to develop and deploy scalable AI solutions that address complex challenges. G42 is a key player in the UAE’s strategic push to become a global hub for technology and innovation.
Source: Middle East AI News
