AMD and Cisco have announced a new joint venture with Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain, aimed at developing large-scale data centers across the Middle East. The announcement was confirmed by the CEOs of the three companies in an interview with Reuters.
Project Begins with a 100 MW Data Center in Saudi Arabia
The joint venture will begin by constructing a 100-megawatt data center in Saudi Arabia. Humain’s CEO, Tariq Amin, revealed that Luma AI, a leading generative video company, has already contracted to purchase the entire capacity of the first facility.
Amin stated:
“They will be the first customer for this cluster,” confirming that Luma AI has reserved the full 100 MW capacity. This marks the first public disclosure of the project’s scale and initial client.
Part of Agreements Announced During U.S. Visit
The partnership comes as part of a series of technology agreements announced during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh last May. The collaboration is expected to expand further during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington this week.
Backed by the Public Investment Fund
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) continues to support Humain’s expansion into large-scale data center development inside the Kingdom, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s land availability and low-cost energy capabilities.
In the same period last May, other American tech giants such as Nvidia and Qualcomm signed similar cooperation agreements.
AMD’s $10 Billion Partnership with Humain
In May, AMD also announced a $10 billion partnership with Humain, which includes supplying advanced AI chips for upcoming projects.
Ownership Structure and Responsibilities
According to company executives:
-
AMD and Cisco will hold minority stakes in the joint venture.
-
Both companies will share profits and losses.
-
Humain will lead the project, as confirmed by AMD CEO Lisa Su, who said:
“Together, we will be responsible for making this successful.”
Targeting Markets Across 4.5 Billion People
Amin noted that the venture aims to serve vast regions across Asia, Europe, India, the Middle East, and Africa, reaching a population of 4.5 billion.
The long-term plan includes building up to 1 gigawatt of data center capacity by 2030.
First Phase Details
For the initial 100 MW phase:
-
Cisco will supply networking and infrastructure equipment.
-
AMD will provide its advanced MI450 AI chips.
-
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.
-
The project will rely entirely on renewable energy sources.
Pre-Orders Already Underway
Amin also confirmed that Humain is already receiving pre-orders for future data center facilities, despite construction not yet having started.
Cisco’s Strong Role in Sales and Market Reach
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins emphasized that the company will leverage its 25-year sales expertise to help Humain market and commercialize its new data center capabilities globally.
العربية (Arabic) To read the article in Arabic, click here
