Perspectives from AWS Cloud Day Riyadh, 2025: From Cloud Vendor to Sovereignty Partner

This IDC Market Note examines the discussions that took place at AWS Cloud Day Riyadh, 2025 on September 29. It looks at how AWS's planned Saudi Arabia cloud region, AI Zone, and skills programs align with the kingdom's Vision 2030 and its various data, AI, and cloud regulations and policies. It explains where AWS differentiates (custom chips, model governance, partner delivery) and where execution risk remains (skills, legacy modernization, evolving regulation). It also outlines the sovereignty lens, where control beyond data location and the trade-off between deep localization and customer choice have become key differentiators."AWS is aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 through investments in sovereign cloud, AI zones, and skills. Vertical integration, AI governance controls, a broad partner base, and localized services strengthen its position, but outcomes will depend on talent readiness and adaptation to localization needs." - Uzair Mujtaba, senior research manager, software and cloud, IDC.