Cisco and HUMAIN Partner to Build Saudi Arabia’s Groundbreaking AI Infrastructure

Cisco , the global leader in networking and security announced a groundbreaking initiative with HUMAIN – Saudi Arabia’s new AI enterprise – to help build the world’s most open, scalable, resilient and cost-efficient AI infrastructure.

This landmark collaboration will set a new standard for how AI infrastructure is designed, secured and delivered – combining Cisco’s global expertise with the Kingdom’s bold AI ambitions. As the cornerstone in a wider set of new investments in research, talent and innovation, the partnership builds on Cisco’s 25-year commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital and economic growth.

These announcements follow CEO Chuck Robbins’ visit to Saudi Arabia on May 6, 2023, where he met with HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel’s participation today in the visit by President Trump to Saudi Arabia.

Laying the foundations for AI at scale

Cisco’s new initiative with HUMAIN plans to build Saudi Arabia’s AI infrastructure from the ground up – to deliver scalable, secure, cloud-based solutions to power the Kingdom’s AI ambitions. The multi-year initiative aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in digital innovation.

We thank Cisco for its continued partnership and commitment to the Kingdom. This investment marks a major step forward in scaling world-class AI infrastructure, accelerating innovation, and advancing a thriving AI economy led by Saudi talent, while reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a leading hub for AI in the region and beyond.

– H.E. Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology

AI can unlock groundbreaking opportunities for economic growth and innovation, accelerating KSA’s Vision 2030. Today marks a new milestone in more than 25 years of partnership with the Kingdom. Together, we are embracing the future and empowering organizations across the public and private sectors to harness the potential of AI and be at the forefront of this revolution.

– Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO, Cisco

This is not just another infrastructure play – it’s an open invitation to the world’s innovators. We are democratising AI at the compute level, ensuring that access to advanced AI is limited only by imagination, not by infrastructure.

– Tareq Amin, CEO, HUMAIN

Cisco’s global scale and deep expertise will help power the Kingdom’s AI future

Cisco’s role in building Saudi Arabia’s AI infrastructure goes beyond technology – it brings the scale, security and ecosystem needed to make AI work for the Kingdom’s economy and society. Cisco is uniquely positioned to offer:

• AI-Ready infrastructure – Features advanced silicon and purpose-built AI solutions including its industry-leading Nexus, Nexus HyperFabric and UCS technologies, Cisco’s end-to-end platform is built to support massive, scalable workloads.
• Security by design – With security solutions like Hypershield and Splunk, Cisco helps organizations move beyond traditional security methods to protect the applications, data and models that power AI innovation.
• An open, flexible platform – As a secure network forms the foundation for any AI workload, Cisco’s vendor-agnostic approach makes it easy to integrate with local and global partners across the AI ecosystem to deliver true business value.
• Global reach, local impact – Backed by a 300,000-strong global partner network, Cisco brings the expertise and delivery power to match the Kingdom’s ambition.

The foundation Cisco can provide will help turn Saudi Arabia’s AI vision into reality – at scale, and with lasting impact.

Backing the Kingdom’s AI ambition on multiple fronts

Alongside its flagship initiative with HUMAIN, Cisco is making a series of strategic investments to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s AI ecosystem – spanning research, skills, and infrastructure:

• Cisco AI Institute at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) – Cisco plans to establish an AI Institute at KAUST to accelerate innovation, develop real-world AI solutions and grow next-generation talent in Saudi Arabia. The Institute will be supported by Cisco’s foundational AI technologies and infrastructure.
• Digital upskilling for 500,000 learners – Free training in AI, cybersecurity, data science and programming over the next five years, building on Cisco Networking Academy’s success in training over 401,000 learners in KSA to date – with 36% female participation.
• AI infrastructure for global mega events – Building on its track record of providing secure networking infrastructure for global events, Cisco plans to work with the sponsors of Riyadh Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup to develop secure, AI-driven digital infrastructure – helping seamless operations and standout experiences.

Building on Momentum from LEAP 2025

Earlier this year at LEAP 2025, Cisco announced a series of initiatives to advance AI and digital innovation in the Kingdom. Delivering on its commitments, Cisco has operationalized data centers for cloud security services and the Webex Collaboration Platform. To further complement our security and collaboration services, Cisco is announcing its plan to establish a Meraki cloud in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, delivering the power of cloud-managed networking solutions.

Cisco has also initiated plans for a local manufacturing base – starting with fulfillment operations for wireless technologies, with intent to scale based on market needs. Cisco is also expanding access to the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) qualification one of the most widely recognized and respected technical certifications in the industry in partnership with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

A long-term partner in Saudi Arabia’s digital journey

At Cisco, we’re partnering for the future. Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to expand our investments in the region and solidifies our support for Saudi’s Vision 2030. Our long-standing presence in KSA combined with Cisco’s cutting-edge technologies and expertise will support the Kingdom in securely powering AI at scale.

– David Meads, Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, Türkiye, Romania, and CIS, Cisco

Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program has been supporting the Kingdom since 2016 – driving digitization, building digital skills and fostering innovation. To date, it has delivered 23 high-impact projects across healthcare, education, smart cities and government.