Riyadh, January 28, 2025 – In a significant meeting aimed at strengthening the strategic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Amazon, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha welcomed Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman to the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting underscored the importance of fostering closer ties between the Kingdom and one of the world’s leading tech giants, with a particular focus on advancing cloud infrastructure and the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive digital innovation.
During the discussions, Eng. Alswaha, Jassy, and Garman explored a variety of ways to enhance AWS’s role in the Kingdom, particularly in developing high-level cloud regions and utilizing AI to further support the digital economy. The trio highlighted the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing and AI to accelerate the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia’s industries. The collaboration is seen as a pivotal step in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy and position itself as a regional leader in digital innovation, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The meeting comes on the heels of a major announcement made by AWS in February 2024, where the company revealed a significant investment of $5.3 billion to establish high-level cloud regions in Saudi Arabia. This investment is part of AWS’s broader strategy to enhance its cloud services in the region, ensuring businesses in Saudi Arabia have access to world-class infrastructure and the latest cloud technologies. By building these infrastructure regions, AWS aims to provide more robust and secure services to local businesses, government institutions, and startups, enabling them to leverage the power of the cloud for greater operational efficiency, innovation, and growth.
The collaboration between Saudi Arabia and AWS is expected to have a far-reaching impact on the Kingdom’s economy, enabling it to develop cutting-edge solutions that enhance sectors ranging from finance and healthcare to education and entertainment. With the Kingdom’s emphasis on technology and innovation as key drivers of economic diversification, the partnership with AWS is seen as a key catalyst in realizing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. By enhancing cloud capabilities and introducing advanced AI technologies, the two sides are working together to create a robust digital ecosystem that fosters sustainable growth, global competitiveness, and job creation.
The meeting also emphasized the potential of AWS’s advanced AI and machine learning capabilities in various industries. The two sides discussed how AI can be leveraged to streamline business operations, improve public services, and foster innovation across the private sector. With AI rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern economies, Saudi Arabia is keen on tapping into its full potential to drive future economic development.
Overall, the strengthened partnership between Saudi Arabia and AWS represents a crucial step in the Kingdom’s journey toward becoming a global digital hub. As both entities continue to collaborate on the development of cloud infrastructure and the adoption of AI technologies, the impact of this strategic alliance is poised to be felt not only within the Kingdom but across the broader Middle East region as well. This partnership reflects Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to building a thriving digital economy and advancing its Vision 2030 goals by creating an ecosystem where technology and innovation drive sustainable growth and development.
