UAE telecom giant e& has announced a $1 billion partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate cloud adoption and digital transformation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The six-year agreement aims to deliver core cloud services, including storage, computing, networking, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
The partnership combines AWS’s cloud infrastructure with e&’s regional network to address stringent requirements for secure, scalable cloud solutions across regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and oil and gas.
This move comes as cloud adoption in the Middle East is on the rise, with PwC reporting that 70% of companies in the region plan to migrate most of their operations to the cloud within the next two years.
As part of the deal, e& will leverage AWS’s services to modernize platforms like Starzplay Arabia, a TV streaming service, and Careem, the Middle East’s “everything app”. The technology group owns a large stake in both these firms. The partnership also includes plans to provide cloud technology and AI training to thousands of individuals, including UAE nationals, in support of the country’s Vision 2031 goals.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are enabling businesses across the region to lead in an AI-powered, data-driven economy.”
Tanuja Randery, VP of Europe, Middle East, and Africa at AWS, added, “This collaboration marks another significant step in our ongoing investment in the UAE.”
The agreement builds on AWS’s growing presence in the region, following the launch of its second Middle East cloud region in the UAE in 2022. AWS has planned a $5 billion investment in the local economy through 2036, further solidifying its commitment to the area’s digital transformation.
- Saudi’s Orbii raises $3.6 million in Prosus-led seed to help banks and fintechs launch SME lending - September 8, 2025
- Egypt’s TradeHub shuts down, returns remaining capital to investors after failing to achieve product-market fit - September 7, 2025
- Dubai’s WheelsOn raises $12.5 million in debt and equity for its deposit-free car rental platform - September 7, 2025
