OpenAI has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) valued at $38bn to run and scale its advanced artificial intelligence workloads on AWS infrastructure.

Under the agreement, OpenAI will immediately begin using AWS compute capacity, including hundreds of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs connected through Amazon EC2 UltraServers, with the ability to scale to tens of millions of CPUs.

All capacity is targeted to be deployed by the end of 2026, with expansion expected into 2027 and beyond.

Highlights of the OpenAI-AWS tieup

The deal will give OpenAI access to AWS’s large-scale AI infrastructure, which includes clusters of more than 500,000 chips.

The setup will support both inference for ChatGPT and the training of next-generation models, with systems designed for low-latency performance and scalable efficiency.

“Scaling frontier AI requires massive, reliable compute,” said OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. “Our partnership with AWS strengthens the broad compute ecosystem that will power this next era and bring advanced AI to everyone.”

“As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, AWS’s best-in-class infrastructure will serve as a backbone for their AI ambitions,” AWS CEO Matt Garman said.

The partnership follows earlier collaborations between the two firms. OpenAI’s foundation models are already available on Amazon Bedrock, AWS’s AI service, where they are used by customers such as Bystreet, Comscore, Peloton, Thomson Reuters, Triomics, and Verana Health for applications including coding, data analysis, and scientific research.

AWS said the new infrastructure will use NVIDIA GB200 and GB300 chips to handle OpenAI’s growing compute requirements, reinforcing the company’s position as a preferred provider for large-scale AI workloads.

Read: AWS’ Tanuja Randery on supporting EMEA’s digital transformation and AI ambition

The Middle East has rapidly become a hub of digital transformation, simultaneously embracing cloud adoption, AI integration, and unprecedented business growth.

Against this backdrop, cybersecurity has fundamentally shifted from a mere IT concern to a core boardroom priority, with identity emerging as the new, most critical battleground.

At the recent GITEX GLOBAL, Gulf Business caught up with Roland Daccache, senior manager, sales engineering, Middle East & Africa at CrowdStrike, to discuss the key insights his team gathered at the event, the escalating threat from cloud-native adversaries, and how the company is tailoring its strategy to defend the dynamic, high-growth Middle East market.

CrowdStrike is a regular participant at GITEX GLOBAL. What is the core message you are bringing to the platform this year, and what is your mission in the face of evolving threats?

Our mission at CrowdStrike has never changed: to stop breaches. However, the breach itself has evolved. Every year at GITEX GLOBAL, we are here to showcase new innovations and highlight what businesses need to change to remain secure.

The core message is simple: if the cyber threat is evolving — leveraging identity, AI, and cloud — then we, as defenders, must evolve, too.

Cybersecurity is a major topic now, discussed at the board level alongside financial and legal risks. Based on your global threat report, what key trends are you observing in adversary behaviour?

Our report shows threat adversaries are behaving like sophisticated businesses, complete with operation centres and support centres.

Key metrics reveal:

• 81 per cent of attacks are interactive hands-on keyboard attacks, meaning attackers are abandoning traditional malware for tactics like identity theft and phishing.
• We saw a 136 per cent rise in cloud-native attacks, confirming that adversaries are following businesses as they move to the cloud.
• There was a 442 per cent rise in voice phishing attacks, as attackers change tactics to evade detection from advanced endpoint security (EDR) technologies.

It’s often said that people are the weakest link in security. With all the technology advancements, why does the human element still pose such a challenge, and what is the new frontier you believe needs protection?

It’s true that humans remain a very weak link.

Today, we even have self-sufficient AI agents gaining access to organisations, similar to human users. At CrowdStrike, we strongly believe that identity is the frontier we need to protect.

Our focus is on eliminating standing privileges and implementing just-in-time access, ensuring users run with the least amount of privileges needed for their function. This prevents scenarios like an HR intern being able to download all payroll information.

You mentioned focusing on software as a service (SaaS) security. Why is this area often overlooked by organisations, and how does it relate to identity-based attacks?

Organisations often overlook or ignore the security of their SaaS platforms. Everyone in the organisation often runs with excessive privileges within these tools.

An intruder can then launch a hands-on-keyboard attack directly from a compromised SaaS provider. That’s why we acquired a company called Adaptive Shield to specifically protect these environments and eliminate these overlooked points of entry.

What are the main concerns CISOs in the Middle East are bringing to you today, and how does CrowdStrike address them?

The biggest headache for a CISO is that their protection is a moving target. They know buying a firewall and an antivirus is no longer enough.

We’ve seen three main areas of interest:

1. Identity security is top of the agenda, as they know over 80 per cent of attacks start with a compromised identity.
2. Cloud security, because businesses must adopt hyperscalers and SaaS platforms.
3. Securing the use of AI in the organisation. CISOs are deeply concerned about users forwarding confidential data to tools like ChatGPT or Gemini where they have no control.

Read: CrowdStrike launches unified identity security platform to counter AI-driven threats

How is CrowdStrike helping CISOs secure employee use of generative AI tools?

We recently acquired Pangea, an AI security company, to extend our Falcon platform with an AI detection and response (AIDR) capability.

This move will help empower CISOs to protect their organisations from data leaks to AI tools, whether the leak comes from end-users or from developers building AI-enabled applications.

It provides the necessary guardrails to trust the deployment of these new technologies within a corporate environment.

The Middle East is seeing unprecedented business growth and investment. What does this dynamic market mean for CrowdStrike?

More startups, more mergers and acquisitions across financials, healthcare and industrials — this presents a huge opportunity for adversaries to target the weakest links.

Our role is to help businesses safely enable their main potential.

We have seen an unprecedented demand for our products and services and are fuelling this growth by investing more in our Middle East presence, including technical, sales, and channel roles.

Are the challenges for a CISO in the Middle East the same as in the US or Europe? How do you adapt your technology deployment regionally?

They are different. In the US, the debate is often which cloud or SaaS solution to choose.

In the Middle East, we are still debating whether to move to the cloud or whether to enable AI inside the organisation.

We adapt our approach by prioritising the technology we deploy according to the organisation’s current business needs and the regional nuances.

Finally, the skill gap in cybersecurity is a global concern. How can this gap be bridged, and what role does AI play in addressing the talent shortage?

I’m positive about the significant investment being made in the UAE and Saudi markets to develop young talent. The way forward is to train our young generations at an early age — a 15-year-old should be equipped to use AI tools safely and responsibly.

On the flip side, AI and automation investments by players like CrowdStrike are reducing the need for thousands of unfilled jobs.

The analysis of a security incident can now be almost fully automated. I see less need for general human operators, but more need for advanced talent — the “human orchestrators” — because the human instinct and guardrails will never be replaced.

Accor, a global leader in hospitality, has announced the signing of Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah, a landmark luxury hotel that will be the largest Sofitel property in the world. The new flagship, developed in partnership with Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC), will open in 2026 and mark a major milestone in the Kingdom’s growing luxury tourism sector.

Located within Jabal Omar master development, just steps away from the Holy Mosque, Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah will feature 1,141 rooms and suites across two towers — Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah North and Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah South — offering panoramic views of the Haram and Makkah’s skyline.

Maud Bailly, CEO Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems, said: “We are honored to introduce Sofitel in Makkah, a city that holds immense spiritual and cultural importance. Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah will stand as a symbol of hospitality, serenity, and connection — a place where our French zest meets Saudi authenticity. This extraordinary project reflects our ambition to create meaningful cultural bridges through luxury hospitality in one of the world’s most sacred destinations.”

Blending French art de vivre with Saudi heritage, the hotel will feature six distinctive dining venues, including elegant all-day dining restaurants, a signature fine-dining concept merging French and Middle Eastern flavors, and intimate lounges designed for reflection and gathering. Guests will also have access to a Club Millésime executive lounge, fitness centers, and exclusive wellness experiences inspired by local traditions and crafted by Saudi artisans.

The project underscores Accor’s partnership with Jabal Omar Development Company, one of the Middle East’s largest publicly listed real estate firms and a key driver of Makkah’s urban transformation. JODC’s masterplan integrates hospitality, retail, and residential offerings to support the city’s spiritual and economic growth.

Jean-Baptiste Recher, chief development officer luxury brands Middle East, Africa and Turkiye, said: “Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah is a landmark achievement for Accor in the Middle East luxury sector. The hotel exemplifies our commitment to creating world-class properties that harmonize local heritage with French luxury, offering guests an unparalleled experience at the heart of Makkah.”

Xavier Grange, chief development officer, Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery & Emblems, added: “The Jabal Omar development represents a cornerstone of Makkah’s urban transformation, reinforcing Accor’s leadership in the Kingdom’s luxury segment, and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The signing of the world’s largest Sofitel in Makkah reflects our ambition to grow the brand’s presence through landmark projects in key strategic markets, bringing the spirit of French luxury hospitality to a global stage. Sofitel’s proven expertise in operating large-scale hotels ensures we deliver exceptional guest experiences at any scale.”

With its scale, design, and proximity to the Holy Mosque, Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah reinforces Accor’s long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 — advancing the Kingdom’s position as a leading global tourism destination while celebrating cultural connection through luxury hospitality.

Egypt and ExxonMobil have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand natural gas exploration and production activities in the Egyptian Mediterranean, the Egyptian Petroleum Ministry said on Tuesday.

Under the MOU, ExxonMobil plans to invest in a new concession area located west of Egypt’s Zohr field, according to the ministry’s statement.

DP World has partnered with Parkin to roll out a fully automated smart parking system at the Al Aweer Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, managing around 2,500 parking spaces for light vehicles and another 500 for trucks.

The advanced system will use license plate recognition technology and real-time data analytics to enable barrier-free access, easing congestion and improving traffic flow within one of Dubai’s most active trading hubs.

Read more-New parking zones introduced in Dubai: What you need to know about tariffs

According to a Dubai Media Office report, the initiative is designed to streamline high-volume movements for market traders and supply chain operators, enhancing operational efficiency across the site.

The project supports Dubai’s wider Smart City agenda and the emirate’s long-term vision to transform the Al Aweer site into the world’s largest integrated food trading and logistics centre. Once complete, the development is expected to strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading global gateway for the fresh produce trade.

Enhancing logistics efficiency

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and managing director of DP World GCC, said the partnership reflects DP World’s focus on innovation beyond the port gates. “Efficient logistics go far beyond the port gates to every link of the supply chain, from traffic flow and parking management to the movement of goods and their timely delivery,” he said. “In the perishables trade, every second counts. By partnering with Parkin, we will make operations at one of the region’s busiest food hubs faster, smarter and more seamless.”

Eng. Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin, said the collaboration allows the company to apply its technology-driven parking solutions to one of Dubai’s most important commercial destinations. “By introducing seamless barrierless parking at Al Aweer Market, we aim to ease congestion, improve traffic flow and ensure more efficient use of parking space,” he said. “This will directly benefit the thousands of traders, logistics providers and visitors who rely on the market each day, while supporting Dubai’s wider Smart City ambitions.”

The new system builds on the 2023 agreement between Dubai Municipality and DP World to develop the world’s largest logistics hub dedicated to foodstuffs, fruit and vegetables. The hub aims to double the size of Dubai’s existing market and connect the zone to international markets, further reinforcing the city’s role as one of the Gulf’s leading centres for global food trade.