UAE telecom provider du has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Open Innovation AI, a local AI infrastructure firm, to advance the development of a sovereign Agentic AI workforce for the nation’s government and enterprise sectors. The partnership, supported by the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC), aims to create a secure, in-country AI ecosystem by integrating du’s national cloud infrastructure with Open Innovation AI’s orchestration platform.
Quick Facts
- Partnership to build UAE’s sovereign Agentic AI capabilities.
- Integrates du’s certified cloud with OI AI’s GPU platform.
- Collaboration is supported by the UAE Cyber Security Council.
A National Push for Sovereign AI Infrastructure
The agreement was formalized during the Digital Readiness Retreat 2026 in Dubai, with Jasim Al Awadi, Chief ICT Officer at du, and Dr. Abed Benaichouche, Co-Founder & CEO of Open Innovation AI, signing the MoU. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, highlighting the strategic importance of the collaboration for national security.
This initiative builds on the recent CSC certification of du Tech’s National Hypercloud, a platform designed to ensure data and AI governance remain within the UAE’s jurisdiction.
“Sovereign AI is a critical national security priority,” said His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti. “Following our recent certification of du Tech’s National Hypercloud, this homegrown collaboration represents the secure in-country AI infrastructure orchestration the UAE requires to protect its data and digital future.”
Integrating Cloud and GPU Orchestration
The partnership will combine du’s digital infrastructure with Open Innovation AI’s platform for GPU resource management and AI security. By integrating du Tech’s National Hypercloud with Open Innovation AI’s fabric, the goal is to allow public and private organizations to deploy autonomous AI workloads with greater speed and regulatory compliance.
Jasim Al Awadi of du stated, “By merging du Tech’s CSC-certified National Hypercloud with Open Innovation AI’s orchestration platform, we are delivering the foundational compute engine required for secure, in-country Agentic AI deployment. We are building the secure, compliant, and high-performance backbone that will allow UAE government entities and enterprises to deploy autonomous AI workforces with absolute confidence.”
The collaboration will also focus on developing joint go-to-market strategies and commercial deployment opportunities.
“By bringing Open Innovation’s Sovereign AI Fabric together with du Tech’s National Hypercloud, we aim to give government entities and enterprises secure, in-country access to the compute that AI workloads demand, while keeping data, models, and infrastructure firmly within UAE jurisdiction,” added Dr. Abed Benaichouche of Open Innovation AI.
About du
du offers a comprehensive portfolio of mobile, fixed, broadband, entertainment services, and fintech solutions. Through a digital-first approach powered by ultra-reliable fiber and 5G technology, du delivers bespoke solutions leveraging cloud computing, AI-driven analytics, advanced cybersecurity, and IoT integration.
About Open Innovation AI
Open Innovation AI is a UAE-based technology company enabling enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence through a sovereign, hardware-agnostic platform. Its core product, the Open Innovation Cluster Manager (OICM), delivers GPU orchestration and full lifecycle management for AI workloads, from development to deployment.
About the UAE Cyber Security Council
The UAE Cyber Security Council was established in 2020 to serve as the federal entity responsible for ensuring a secure digital transformation. The Council is dedicated to enhancing the readiness of all vital sectors to counter cyber threats through the design of innovative security solutions.
Source: Zawya
