Manara, a leading upskilling platform for computer science and AI talent in the MENA region, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), recently launched the Cloud Catalyst Tech Forum 2026. The two-day event, held in Riyadh on January 18–19, was designed to spotlight and empower the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing pool of technology talent.
The forum served as a crucial bridge, connecting top engineers graduating from Manara’s Saudi programs with prominent hiring partners from across the Kingdom. The event underscored a shared commitment to fostering a sustainable pipeline of high-impact engineering talent ready to lead the nation’s digital transformation.
A Hub for Homegrown Innovation
A major highlight of the forum was a large-scale Generative AI Hackathon, which saw over 1,000 participants leveraging AWS cloud and AI infrastructure to build solutions for national priorities. These emerging innovators developed projects aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, demonstrating how local talent is actively contributing to the country’s ambitious future.
The event also featured a series of keynote speeches, fireside chats, and panel discussions with senior leaders from both the public and private sectors. These sessions explored the future of AI in the Kingdom, the accelerated adoption of cloud technologies, and the evolving impact of these advancements on Saudi Arabia’s workforce and economy.
Forging a Strategic Partnership for Talent Development
Coinciding with the forum, Manara and AWS announced a new social impact agreement that will see an investment of up to USD 2.8 million in delivering AWS training by February 2028. This initiative aims to train, upskill, and certify more than 5,000 software engineers across the MENA region, with a strategic focus on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
Amr El Selouky, CEO of Manara, commented on the collaboration: “This new initiative, part of our close working relationship with AWS, marks an exciting next chapter for Manara. As cloud adoption accelerates across the region, initiatives like Cloud Catalyst in Riyadh ensure that exceptional engineers are not only keeping pace—but leading the future of technology locally and globally.”
Voices From the Ecosystem
The impact of Manara’s programs was echoed by its participants and partners. Omar Badawi, a Manara program alumnus, shared his experience: “The university gave me theory; Manara made me a software engineer…Exposing me to AWS cloud technology while I was still a student put me miles ahead of my peers who missed out on Manara. What Manara gave me was more than a bunch of vouchers and technical sessions; it gave me access to a community of amazing, highly skilled, and goal-oriented people.”
This sentiment was reinforced by hiring partners who have witnessed the quality of talent emerging from the program. Serena Barakat, AI Product Owner at PSI, said of Omar, “Beyond his amazing technical expertise, he is highly reliable, takes full ownership of his tasks, and consistently delivers quality work, even under tight deadlines. His creativity, can-do attitude, and proactive suggestions have made him a trusted member of our team.”
About Manara
Manara is a Silicon Valley-based company and the MENA region’s largest platform for software engineers, computer scientists, and tech enthusiasts. Dedicated to accelerating the careers of computer science and AI talent in the Middle East & North Africa region, Manara is transforming the region into a global hub for world-class talent through contextualising Silicon Valley’s best practices to MENA’s workforce. Through its engaging edtech platform and world-class instructor-led training, Manara helps companies and governments train their own engineering teams or build ecosystems of talent.
Source: Wamda
