New AFX and AI Data Engine offerings deliver secure, scalable infrastructure for AI workloads across hybrid multicloud environments
NetApp has introduced a comprehensive enterprise-grade data platform designed to power mission-critical AI applications, marking a major milestone in the region’s digital transformation. Announced during GITEX 2025, the launch includes the exabyte-scale NetApp AFX system and the AI Data Engine (AIDE), both built to support demanding AI workloads with speed, security, and flexibility.
NetApp AFX is a disaggregated all-flash storage system certified for NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD supercomputing. Powered by ONTAP, it provides a robust foundation for AI factories, enabling high-performance data management at scale. Paired with AIDE, the platform offers intelligent data services for training, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and inference across on-prem and public cloud environments.
“Across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, AI has moved from ambition to execution, fueling national visions and reshaping entire industries.”
— Suhail Hasanian, Senior Director & GM, MEA, NetApp
AIDE integrates with NVIDIA’s AI Data Platform and leverages NVIDIA NIM microservices to deliver fast semantic search, advanced compression, and policy-driven workflows. It automates data synchronization and change detection, ensuring data is always current and secure.
“NetApp’s data platform has transformed into an AI-native storage platform,” said Justin Boitano, VP of Enterprise AI Products at NVIDIA. “Organizations can now index and search vast amounts of unstructured data to drive real business impact.”
With deployment options via direct purchase or Keystone STaaS, NetApp’s new offerings support AI adoption without lock-in. The company also hosted a C-suite roundtable to align with UAE’s AI Strategy 2031, reinforcing its role in enabling a smarter, data-driven future.
