Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), a global leader in networking and security, has announced its participation in the Stargate UAE initiative as a preferred technology partner. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, and SoftBank Group, aiming to develop an AI data center in Abu Dhabi. This center is projected to have a target capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW), with an initial delivery of 200 megawatts (MW) set for 2026.

As part of this strategic partnership, Cisco will provide advanced networking, security, and observability hardware and software solutions to accelerate the deployment of next-generation AI compute clusters. The MoU underscores the commitment of the Stargate Project to foster safe and widely distributed AI development along with responsible capital stewardship.

Chuck Robbins, Cisco’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer, expressed pride in joining the consortium, emphasizing that with the right infrastructure, AI can transform data into insights, enabling organizations to innovate faster and address complex challenges. He highlighted the importance of delivering the necessary infrastructure for future breakthroughs in AI.

This announcement follows Robbins’ recent visit to several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, where Cisco unveiled a series of strategic initiatives aimed at advancing AI transformation across the region. These initiatives leverage Cisco’s extensive expertise in networking and security while fostering collaborations with regional partners to build secure, AI-powered digital infrastructures. For additional details on Cisco’s recent announcements in the Middle East, further information is available on the Cisco Newsroom.