Cloud computing giant Amazon Web Services (AWS) seals a $3.6 million deal with Manara to bolster cloud skills for 2,500 software engineers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
In July 2025, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Manara, a tech talent development platform, announced a $3.6 million partnership aimed at fostering cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) skills across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The collaboration is designed to address the growing demand for advanced tech talent in the region, driven by increased IT and AI investments.
The strategic alliance focuses on empowering local developers and IT professionals with industry-relevant knowledge and hands-on experience in AWS cloud services and AI solutions. This initiative aligns with the region's surging IT spending, expected to reach $169 billion in 2026, with a strong emphasis on AI-enabled software and infrastructure [1][3][5].
The partnership aims to train 2,500 software engineers, data scientists, and AI engineers, equipping them with expertise in cloud computing and generative AI. This initiative is expected to position MENA as a major technology hub in the coming decade.
The training will be delivered through Manara's proprietary education technology platform. Participants will receive AWS Certifications and have access to meaningful employment opportunities.
Antonio AlSonzo Lopez, the Director of Partner Management, EMEA at AWS, commented on the partnership, stating, "We are excited to partner with Manara to help develop the next generation of cloud and AI talent in the MENA region."
Iliana Montauk, Founder and CEO of Manara, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "The Middle East is poised to become the next frontier for technology talent, and we are proud to lead this movement."
Manara, founded by two female entrepreneurs, is backed by investors including Y Combinator, Seedcamp, Precursor Ventures, Neo Capital, Reid Hoffman, Eric Ries, Marc Benioff, Paul Graham, and Jessica Livingston.
This collaboration reflects a broader regional priority to build a sustainable tech ecosystem by fostering talent proficiency in cutting-edge technologies, thus supporting digital transformation and innovation goals in MENA. The partnership follows AWS's recent $5.3 billion investment announcement in Saudi Arabia.
Omar AlSakka, a graduate of the initiative, shared his positive experience with the program, gaining confidence and expertise through the initiative to pursue roles in AWS services and cloud computing.
Enterprise companies in MENA, Europe, and North America will be able to access trained and qualified engineers through Manara's hiring services. This partnership is a significant step towards bridging the talent gap in cloud computing and AI, enabling professionals to work in emerging areas such as generative AI, machine learning models, and cloud infrastructure management [1][3][5].
The partnership between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Manara, a tech talent development platform, is centered around data-and-cloud-computing technology, as they aim to train 2,500 software engineers, data scientists, and AI engineers in AWS cloud services and generative AI. This initiative is expected to position the MENA region as a major technology hub, bridging the talent gap in cloud computing and AI.
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