Ankabut and Dell Technologies signed an MoU to expand GPU-as-a-service and high-performance computing for UAE institutions, advancing digital education.
Ankabut, the UAE’s national research and education network (NREN) and leading education cloud provider, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dell Technologies to accelerate digital innovation across the country’s education sector.
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The agreement was signed by Walid Yehia, Managing Director – South Gulf at Dell Technologies, and Tarek Jundi, CEO of Ankabut, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing technology-driven learning and research in the UAE.
Operating from its data centre at Khalifa University, Ankabut delivers networking, virtualization, cloud services, cybersecurity, application hosting, and managed support services to educational institutions nationwide.
Under the partnership, Ankabut will leverage Dell’s GPU-as-a-Service capabilities to provide academic institutions with access to accelerated computing resources. This will support data-intensive research, artificial intelligence applications, and advanced digital learning initiatives.
Dell will also supply high-performance computing systems, along with next-generation client devices and workstations. Together, these solutions aim to enhance institutional infrastructure with secure, scalable, and efficient technology platforms.
Through the MoU, Ankabut intends to expand its capabilities as a Cloud Solution Provider, enabling broader access to GPU resources and high-performance computing. The initiative is designed to strengthen research capacity, improve teaching outcomes, and foster innovation across the UAE’s academic ecosystem.
“The UAE continues to set benchmarks for innovation in education through its commitment to technology-driven learning,” said Walid Yehia. “Our collaboration with Ankabut aligns perfectly with this national vision, combining Dell’s advanced infrastructure solutions with Ankabut’s leadership in education networks to create a future-ready digital ecosystem for students, researchers, and educators.”
Tarek Jundi described the agreement as a significant milestone for the sector. “By integrating Dell Technologies’ advanced computing solutions with Ankabut’s cloud and connectivity expertise, we are empowering institutions to reimagine how education is delivered and experienced. Together, we are enabling a smarter, more connected academic community that supports the UAE’s ambitions for a knowledge-based economy.”
The partnership reflects growing demand for AI-ready infrastructure and advanced computing capabilities within the region’s higher education institutions, as the UAE continues to invest in research, digital transformation, and next-generation skills development.
Why the Ankabut and Dell Partnership Matters to MENA
This partnership highlights a broader regional shift: education systems across MENA are moving beyond basic digital adoption toward AI-ready infrastructure and advanced research computing.
Access to GPU-as-a-service and high-performance computing is no longer limited to global research hubs. By enabling UAE institutions to tap into accelerated computing power, the collaboration strengthens the country’s capacity in artificial intelligence, data science, engineering, and advanced research.
For the wider MENA region, this signals a growing focus on building sovereign digital infrastructure for academia, ensuring that universities and research centers have the tools to compete globally while aligning with national innovation strategies.
As Gulf economies push toward knowledge-based diversification, scalable cloud infrastructure and AI-enabled education platforms will play a critical role in developing local talent, supporting research commercialization, and positioning the region as a serious contributor to global technology advancement.
