AWS and Manara Launch $3.6M Initiative to Develop Cloud Talent Across MENA 

In a major step toward accelerating digital transformation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a new collaboration with Manara, a social impact startup focused on cultivating the region’s top technology talent—particularly among women in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Together, they will invest $3.6 million over two years to train 2,500 software engineers in cloud and AI skills.

This joint initiative is designed to empower the next generation of cloud professionals across MENA and support the region’s emergence as a global tech hub. The program will deliver training on cloud computing, AWS services, and AI through Manara’s proprietary edtech platform, culminating in AWS certifications and career pathways with global employers.“The Middle East is poised to become the next frontier for technology talent, and Manara is at the forefront of this movement,” said Iliana Montauk, Founder and CEO of Manara. “Through our collaboration with AWS, we are doubling down on our commitment to accelerate the development of top tech talent across MENA.”

A Strategic Investment in MENA’s Tech Workforce

This partnership builds on AWS’s broader regional strategy, including its recent $5.3 billion investment in Saudi Arabia, aimed at deepening cloud infrastructure and talent development. According to Antonio Alonso Lopez, Director of Partner Management, EMEA at AWS:“AWS is committed to providing learners and organisations with high-quality training and certifications to build and validate cloud skills. Together with partners like Manara, we are equipping communities to capitalise on the tremendous opportunity that generative AI represents.”

Founded in Silicon Valley by two female entrepreneurs, Manara has rapidly gained prominence with backing from top-tier investors like Y Combinator, Seedcamp, and Neo Capital, along with tech icons such as Reid Hoffman, Marc Benioff, and Jessica Livingston. Its mission is both ambitious and inclusive—unlocking global tech opportunities while advancing gender diversity and inclusion.

Training, Certification, and Employment at Scale

The program will provide participants with rigorous, job-ready training in cloud technologies, culminating in AWS certifications that validate their skills to employers across MENA, Europe, and North America. Talent trained through the initiative will also be accessible to companies via Manara’s hiring services.“This program has really given me the confidence and expertise to pursue roles in AWS services and cloud computing,” shared Omar AlSakka, a recent graduate of the program.

Manara has already partnered with Fortune 500 companies to place top talent across the region, and this new initiative will scale its impact significantly. Engineers and hiring companies can apply or learn more at www.manara.tech.

As global demand for cloud and AI skills surges, this collaboration positions AWS and Manara as key enablers of MENA’s digital future—training talent, bridging opportunity gaps, and fueling regional innovation.