HUMAIN taps NVIDIA, AMD, AWS, Cisco and Qualcomm to build Saudi Arabia's AI infrastructure

HUMAIN is working with NVIDIA, AMD, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cisco to build out AI infrastructure, cloud systems, and workforce training programs both in the Kingdom and beyond.

Saudi Arabia's HUMAIN is making a big push into artificial intelligence with a trio of major partnerships following its launch by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PIF as well as US President Donald Trump’s visit to the country.

Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the company is working with NVIDIA, AMD, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco and Qualcomm to build out AI infrastructure, cloud systems, and workforce training programs both in the Kingdom and beyond. Specifically, HUMAIN will provide a comprehensive range of AI services, products and tools, including next-generation data centers, AI infrastructure and cloud capabilities, and advanced AI models and solutions. The company will also offer one of the world’s most powerful multimodal Arabic large language models (LLMs).

With NVIDIA, HUMAIN plans to deploy AI factories powered by hundreds of thousands of GPUs. The initial build will include an 18,000-unit NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GB300 AI supercomputer supported by InfiniBand networking. These facilities aim to support training and deployment of sovereign AI models for use across sectors, including public services and industry.

NVIDIA's Omniverse platform is also part of the plan. HUMAIN will use it to simulate real-world environments—allowing companies in areas like logistics, manufacturing, and energy to develop digital twins. These simulations can help improve safety, efficiency, and planning. Both firms say the move supports Saudi Arabia's goal to develop physical AI solutions and enter the Industry 4.0 era.

The deal also includes a talent development push. HUMAIN and NVIDIA will train thousands of Saudi developers and professionals in AI and robotics. These upskilling programs aim to support national goals tied to Vision 2030, including economic diversification and a more tech-driven workforce.

In a separate agreement, AMD and HUMAIN plan to build out 500 megawatts of AI computing power over five years. The estimated $10 billion investment will fund data center infrastructure, power systems, and global connectivity. AMD will provide hardware and open software tools, including its Instinct GPUs, EPYC CPUs, Pensando DPUs, and the ROCm software stack.

The system will be open by design, according to both companies. That means startups, enterprises, and government agencies can access and build on it without relying on closed ecosystems. HUMAIN will manage deployment, while AMD focuses on compute capability.

Tareq Amin, HUMAIN's CEO, said the project is about access. "We are democratizing AI at the compute level, ensuring that access to advanced AI is limited only by imagination, not by infrastructure," he said.

AWS is the third major partner. The company will invest over $5 billion to develop a dedicated "AI Zone" in Saudi Arabia. This will include servers, UltraCluster networking, and services such as SageMaker, Bedrock, and Amazon Q. The infrastructure is designed to support generative AI development, with features tailored for both public and private sector needs.

The two sides will also launch a national AI agent marketplace and develop new Arabic-language large language models (LLMs). Healthcare, education, and government services are expected to be early adopters.

AWS will also scale up training programs. It has pledged to train 100,000 citizens in cloud and AI technologies, including women through a dedicated upskilling initiative. The effort builds on AWS's wider training academy in the region.

Meanwhile, Cisco has announced a groundbreaking initiative with HUMAIN 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. The multi-year initiative aims to position the country as a global leader in digital innovation.

Chip giant Qualcomm also signed a memorandum of understanding with HUMAIN to deliver advanced AI data centers, hybrid AI across edge and cloud, along with cloud-to-edge services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. The strategic collaboration will foster the development of cutting-edge AI and CPU solutions for data centers by Qualcomm for use in HUMAIN AI cloud infrastructure.

Qualcomm will collaborate with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to set up a design center to help develop the Saudi semiconductor ecosystem and nurture local engineering talent.

Together, these partnerships mark a coordinated attempt to build out Saudi Arabia's AI infrastructure, from silicon to skills. PwC estimates AI will contribute US$130 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030—more than 40% of the projected value for the entire Middle East.