AWS, e&, and UAE Cybersecurity Council launch the ‘UAE Sovereign Launchpad,' accelerating cloud adoption for public sector and regulated industries
Dubai — May, 2025 — Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), and e&, the UAE-based global technology group, have today launched the UAE Sovereign Launchpad, a cloud offering in UAE that is set to accelerate the adoption of cloud and AI services for the UAE public sector and regulated industries.
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad, which is powered by AWS, offered by e&, and endorsed by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, paves the way for a new era of public cloud adoption in the UAE that is estimated to add US$181 billion cumulative value to the nation's digital economy by 2033.
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad will run on the AWS Middle East (UAE) Region located within the borders of the UAE. e& will manage and implement customers' security and sovereignty controls aligned with UAE Cloud Security policies. In addition, e& will leverage AWS Outposts, a service that allows customers to extend and run AWS services on premises, to meet customers' specific data residency requirements.
UAE government agencies, along with customers in healthcare, financial services, education, space, oil & gas, and non-profit sectors, can now access the latest AWS cloud technologies, while addressing the data sovereignty requirements of the UAE Cyber Security Council.
UAE public sector and regulated customers can use the UAE Sovereign Launchpad through e& for all workloads except those classified as Secret and Top Secret, combining AWS cloud capabilities, alongside workload management solutions and managed security support provided by e&. This will cover the majority of workloads for organizations in the UAE.
'The UAE Cyber Security Council welcomes the launch of the UAE Sovereign Launchpad and the collaboration between e& and AWS in advancing our nation's digital transformation journey. With the additional security and sovereignty controls designed within the UAE Sovereign Launchpad, the UAE Government and regulated industries can transform and innovate with AWS, while meeting regulatory requirements,' said His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, which spearheads the UAE's cybersecurity regulatory framework.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, said: 'Through AWS's UAE Region and e&'s local expertise, this collaboration demonstrates our commitment to enabling secure cloud solutions that meet the requirements of UAE's government and regulated sectors.
'The launch of the UAE Sovereign Launchpad, which leverages e&'s security expertise and operations, proves that world-class cloud services can operate within national cybersecurity frameworks. Our strategic partnership with AWS continues to exemplify how global cloud innovation can align with national priorities.'
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad is the latest development of a US$1 billion-plus strategic alliance between AWS and e& to fast-track cloud solutions in the Middle East, supporting AI deployment and digital transformation across the region.
AWS is architected to be the most secure cloud infrastructure on which to build, migrate, and manage applications and workloads. This is backed by the trust of millions of customers worldwide, including the most security sensitive organizations like government, healthcare, and financial services. The UAE public sector and regulated customers will now have access to the latest digital technologies, such as AI and machine learning, while addressing their data sovereignty requirements through the UAE Sovereign Launchpad.
'Our collaboration with e& the UAE Cybersecurity Council represents the perfect synergy of secure global cloud innovation and local expertise, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to supporting the 'We the UAE 2031' vision,' said Tanuja Randery, vice president, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, AWS. 'Security is foundational to sovereignty, and we believe it's essential that customers have control over their data and choices for how they secure and manage their data in the cloud. By combining our world-class cloud capabilities with e&'s deep understanding of UAE's regulatory landscape, we've developed solutions that serve UAE's digital transformation while maintaining the required data protection standards.'
UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau:
AWS, UAE Cybersecurity Council, and e& also plan to create the UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau (CTIB). The CTIB aims to advance 'Made in UAE' cybersecurity innovations, strengthening the UAE's global leading position at the forefront of cyber resilience and elevating the nation's digital capacity building in secure-by-design cloud-computing infrastructure.
'The UAE CTIB reflects the constant efforts made by the UAE in the field of cybersecurity and is a result of the directions and visions of the country's wise leadership,' added Dr. Al-Kuwaiti. 'Through the UAE CTIB, we plan to develop an annual program of training workshops, national and international partnerships, start-up incubations, reports and whitepapers, along with strategic R&D and academic collaborations, to accelerate the UAE's digital transformation and cyber pulse agenda.'
About UAE Cybersecurity Council (CSC)
The UAE Cybersecurity Council is dedicated to realizing the aspirations and vision of the UAE by safeguarding its institutions, communities, and digital infrastructure against cyber threats. Committed to a secure digital future, the CSC implements cutting-edge security solutions and develops a comprehensive national cybersecurity framework. The CSC strives to establish a resilient cybersecurity defense system and train national talents, supporting the vision of positioning the UAE as a global cybersecurity hub.
About Amazon Web Services:
Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 114 Availability Zones within 36 geographic regions, with announced plans for 16 more Availability Zones and five more AWS Regions in Chile, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs.
About Amazon:
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon.
About e&:
e& is one of the leading technology groups in the world. Boasting impressive financial figures for 2023, with consolidated net revenue reaching a staggering AED 53.8 billion and consolidated net profit surging to AED 10.3 billion, the Group's impeccable credit ratings reflect its strong balance sheet and track record of sustained success.
Founded in Abu Dhabi over 48 years ago, the Group has a rich legacy as the pioneer in telecommunications in the UAE. Today, its footprint spans 33 countries, including STARZPLAY and Careem Everything app across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, making it a leading player in the industry.
Innovation is ingrained in e&'s DNA to create an unbreakable bond between communities using cutting-edge digital solutions, smart connectivity and advanced technologies.
The Group has designed five strong business pillars that address various customer segments: e& UAE, e& international, e& life, e& enterprise and e& capital. Through these pillars, we strive to revolutionise the way people communicate, work and live by providing unparalleled services and exceptional experiences.
At e&, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and delivering measurable results that make a difference in people's lives.
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