Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 18, e& and AWS have launched ‘AI Nation – Afaaq,’ a nationwide program in the UAE to develop AI talent, as part of a $1 billion strategic alliance announced in 2024. The initiative will be delivered through e& Academy in partnership with AWS and aims to address the region’s growing demand for AI-skilled professionals.

Participants across the UAE will gain access to comprehensive training and certifications. AWS will provide 30,000 sponsored vouchers, including 25,000 for the foundational AWS Certified AI Practitioner and 5,000 for the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate. Learners will also benefit from free access to AWS Skill Builder and interactive ‘Cloud Coach’ sessions to support exam preparation and practical understanding.

The program responds to findings from IDC’s 2024 report, which showed that 88% of organizations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia recognize AI’s impact on business, yet 46% face a shortage of skilled professionals. The initiative is designed to close this gap by equipping learners with in-demand AI and cloud skills for the evolving digital economy.

e& Group Chief Strategy Officer Harrison Lung said: “As AWS’s strategic partner, e& is proud to enable this nationwide digital skills program through our e& Academy. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to developing the next generation of talents that will drive the UAE’s innovation and leadership in the global digital economy. By combining AWS’s global training excellence with our local expertise and established presence, we are ensuring that learners across the country have access to the tools and support needed to succeed in the era of cloud and AI. This is about building the nation’s talent base at scale so employers can hire with confidence and people can step into AI-enabled roles across every sector.”

Madhavi Reddy, AWS Managing Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, added: “This initiative represents AWS’s deep commitment to making world-class digital skills training accessible across the UAE. By providing 30,000 learners with industry-recognized certifications in cloud and AI, we are helping to build the robust talent base required for the nation’s digital transformation journey.”

Through AI Nation – Afaaq, learners will be prepared for a range of AI and cloud-related roles, supporting the UAE’s broader efforts to strengthen its digital economy and workforce readiness. The program emphasizes practical skills, exam preparation, and access to global training standards, ensuring participants can contribute effectively to organizations’ AI initiatives.

By combining e&’s local expertise and AWS’s global training resources, the partnership aims to scale talent development across the country, foster innovation, and enable the UAE to meet growing technological demands while empowering individuals with high-value skills in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.