Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Manara, a Silicon Valley-based company and the MENA region's largest platform for software engineers, computer scientists, and tech enthusiasts, announced it has signed a new social impact agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS).  

The deal enables investment of up to $2.8 million in AWS training through February 2028, aimed at upskilling more than 5,000 software engineers across the MENA region, with a strong focus on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.

As per a recent press release, the agreement was announced alongside the launch of the Cloud Catalyst Tech Forum 2026 in Riyadh, held on 18-19 January with AWS support and designed to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s growing technology and AI talent. The two-day forum brought together hiring partners from across the Kingdom with top engineers graduating from Manara’s Saudi programs, which were delivered in collaboration with AWS.

A key highlight of the forum was a large-scale Generative AI Hackathon that attracted more than 1,000 participants. Teams developed cloud- and AI-powered solutions using AWS infrastructure, addressing national priorities aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and showcasing the role of homegrown talent in accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation.

The event also featured keynote speeches, fireside chats, and panel discussions with senior leaders from the public and private sectors. Discussions focused on the future of artificial intelligence in Saudi Arabia, the rapid adoption of cloud technologies, and the evolving impact of AI on the workforce and the wider economy.

Through its ongoing collaboration with AWS, Manara continues to advance cloud and AI fluency while building a sustainable pipeline of high-impact engineering talent to support innovation across the Kingdom and the wider region.