The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has announced a landmark partnership with Core42, a subsidiary of the G42 Group, to establish the world’s first sovereign financial cloud services infrastructure (SFCSI). This pioneering platform will provide a dedicated, AI-powered cloud ecosystem purpose-built for the UAE’s entire financial sector.
The initiative is a cornerstone of the CBUAE’s broader Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) programme. Its strategic goals are to secure national data sovereignty, accelerate financial innovation, and firmly position the UAE as a leading global hub for secure and advanced digital financial services.
A New Global Benchmark in Financial Infrastructure
This move represents a significant milestone not just for the UAE but for financial regulation and infrastructure globally. It marks the first time a central bank has undertaken the creation of a dedicated sovereign cloud of this scale for an entire national financial sector. By embedding AI, real-time analytics, and regulatory oversight directly into the country’s financial backbone, the CBUAE is setting a new standard for how governments can assert sovereign control over critical digital infrastructure while simultaneously fostering innovation and competitiveness.
Fortifying Data Sovereignty and Security
Data sovereignty and cybersecurity are central to the platform’s design. The SFCSI is built on a dedicated and isolated infrastructure engineered to protect sensitive financial data, guard against evolving cyber threats, and ensure the continuous availability of critical financial services across the country. This highly secure environment provides a robust foundation for the nation’s financial institutions.
AI and Analytics at the Core
The platform integrates advanced AI and real-time analytics, empowering licensed financial institutions (LFIs) with intelligent automation, deeper operational insights, and more informed decision-making. The SFCSI also provides a unified multi-cloud management environment, allowing financial institutions to administer all their cloud services within a single integrated framework, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing complexity.
Part of a Wider Digital Transformation Strategy
The development of the SFCSI is a key component of a series of coordinated moves by the CBUAE to embed AI and sovereign technology across the UAE’s financial system. This follows other major initiatives, including collaborations with G42 companies like Presight to develop and maintain critical financial market infrastructures such as the UAE’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) systems and the instant payments platform, Aani.
About The Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure
The Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure (SFCSI) is a centralized and highly secure cloud ecosystem developed by the Central Bank of the UAE in partnership with Core42. It is designed to serve the entire UAE financial sector, offering advanced AI and analytics capabilities on a scalable platform that prioritizes data sovereignty and cybersecurity. The initiative aims to enhance the resilience, innovation, and competitiveness of the UAE’s financial services industry on a global scale.
Source: Middle East AI News
