Cisco and Mannai Corporation QPSC are advancing plans to develop sovereign AI infrastructure in Qatar, bringing together global technology capabilities and local systems integration expertise to support the country’s digital transformation.
The initiative focuses on the growing demand for secure, resilient and locally controlled AI environments as governments and enterprises place greater emphasis on data sovereignty, operational independence and the protection of critical digital infrastructure.
Cisco is working with its longstanding technology partner Mannai Corporation through Mannai Technologies – Networking & ELV. The collaboration brings together capabilities spanning computing, networking, cybersecurity and infrastructure management to support organisations seeking to deploy AI-ready infrastructure.
At the centre of Cisco’s approach is its Sovereign Critical Infrastructure portfolio, which integrates networking, security, collaboration and observability technologies. Designed to support customer-controlled environments, including on-premises and air-gapped deployments, the portfolio addresses requirements for greater control over the systems and data underpinning essential services.
For Qatar, these capabilities are relevant to sectors including government, energy, financial services and healthcare, where secure data management and infrastructure resilience are important considerations in AI adoption. The initiative also aligns with the country’s broader digital transformation ambitions under Qatar National Vision 2030.
The partnership builds on more than three decades of collaboration between Cisco and Mannai in Qatar. Through its Networking & ELV business, Mannai Technologies contributes local engineering, systems integration and deployment capabilities, complementing Cisco’s global technology portfolio.
Together, the companies aim to support organisations exploring sovereign AI infrastructure models that balance technological innovation with security, resilience and local operational requirements as Qatar advances its digital transformation agenda.
