KT Photo: Shihab
The UAE's telecom and technology group e& has entered into a $1 billion agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to expedite cloud-driven innovation and digital transformation across the region. The joint investments, set to span the next six years, follow AWS's establishment of its second Middle East cloud region in the UAE in 2022, with a projected $5 billion investment in the local economy by 2036. The partnership will concentrate on providing essential cloud services such as storage, computing, networking, cybersecurity, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This collaboration will allow e& to utilize AWS's extensive suite of over 200 services to modernize platforms like Starzplay Arabia, a TV streaming service in which e& holds a majority stake, and Careem, the Middle East's 'everything app' offering various services including food delivery, mobility, digital payments, and more. Additionally, e& plans to integrate Amazon's technologies to enhance its AI capabilities and advance its Smart Home services, with Smiles points being redeemable when shopping on Amazon. AWS will also facilitate access to the AWS Marketplace for hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses supported by e&, enabling them to discover, deploy, and manage software on AWS, thereby democratizing cloud access. According to PwC, nearly 70% of Middle East companies intend to migrate most of their operations to the cloud within the next two years, while a 2023 report by Telecom Advisory Services forecasts public cloud adoption to generate $733 billion in economic value by 2033 across the Middle East and North Africa. Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, emphasized that this agreement with AWS reflects their shared long-term strategic objective to foster a digital ecosystem that meets current needs and supports future growth. Tanuja Randery, Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at AWS, highlighted that this collaboration underscores AWS's commitment to the UAE and the broader Middle East, particularly in advancing UAE Vision 2031.
