G42 and Publicis Sapient to explore AI-first services joint venture for the UAE and global south

G42 and Publicis Sapient have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore a joint venture that would combine G42’s sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure with Publicis Sapient’s enterprise AI platforms and industry expertise, targeting accelerated enterprise AI adoption across the UAE and the Global South. The partners said the proposed venture would deploy AI agents at scale and deliver services ranging from cloud modernization to full-scale AI deployment and optimization, with the joint venture targeted for establishment by mid-2026, subject to final agreements.

“This partnership marks the next evolution of our AI services platform,” said His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori, CEO of G42 International. “By combining our sovereign infrastructure and models with Publicis Sapient’s global transformation capabilities, we’re creating an organization purpose-built to deploy agents at scale and deliver measurable outcomes for clients across the UAE and Global South.”

Deal details and capabilities

Under the MOU, G42 will contribute its full AI technology stack — from sovereign cloud infrastructure to foundation models — along with deep sector expertise and AI-native engineering talent with “proven deployment capabilities across the UAE and emerging markets.” Publicis Sapient will bring enterprise-grade AI platforms, specifically Sapient Slingshot, which accelerates the end-to-end software development lifecycle and modernization, and Sapient Bodhi, its platform for industry- and function-specific agents and orchestration.

• Planned services: cloud modernization, AI use case development, intelligent agent creation, enterprise software engineering, and AI deployment and optimization.
• Geographic focus: UAE and the Global South, with the stated aim of translating AI capability into measurable business outcomes for enterprises and governments.
• Experience: Publicis Sapient notes global transformation experience across more than 50 markets and industry expertise refined through hundreds of large-scale digital programmes.

“AI only delivers value when it is grounded in deep industry context and executed at enterprise scale,” said Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis Sapient. “This partnership unites G42’s AI infrastructure with our proven platforms and industry expertise and, through Sapient Slingshot and Sapient Bodhi, we will help organizations turn ambition into operational reality. This is about solving real business problems and embedding AI into the fabric of day-to-day decision-making.”

Context and strategic rationale

The MOU reflects a strategic push to move beyond pilot projects toward production-grade AI systems that can be embedded into operational processes. Both parties emphasised that the joint venture would address the gap between experimentation and deployment by delivering end-to-end services that help organisations personalise experiences, automate processes and make data-driven decisions.

G42 describes itself as a technology holding group “born in Abu Dhabi and operating worldwide,” with AI work spanning sectors from molecular biology to space exploration. Publicis Sapient, the technology hub of Publicis Groupe, said it unites some 20,000 people globally and brings more than 30 years of digital business transformation experience.

Outlook

Subject to finalisation of commercial and operating structures, the partners aim to formalise the joint venture and establish it by mid-2026. Media contacts listed in the announcement include media@g42.ai for G42 and Loren.thomas@publicissapient.com for Publicis Sapient.