Kerno and Saal.ai have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to develop "Sovereign AI-in-a-Box," an integrated platform combining infrastructure, hardware and software developed and manufactured inside the UAE.

The agreement was announced at the AI Everything 2026 exhibition in Dubai. It was signed by Yevgeny Ostrovsky, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Kerno, and Vikraman Poduval, chief executive of Saal.ai.

The partnership aims to let organisations and critical sectors deploy artificial intelligence within the country while retaining full ownership and control of their data, models and infrastructure, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains and cross-border platforms.

The platform brings several technical layers into a single architecture, including enterprise computing, operating environments and container technologies, alongside AI models tailored to organisational needs. Kerno will supply the infrastructure, engineering, manufacturing, testing and supporting enterprise computing systems in the UAE. Saal.ai will provide the AI layer, with solutions designed to improve operational efficiency and support decision-making.

The two companies describe the collaboration as a shift from importing technology to building local capability. They also aim to strengthen domestic supply chains, keep economic value in the country and develop national expertise in hardware engineering, manufacturing and AI model development.

Ostrovsky said that as AI becomes central to national security and critical infrastructure, technological sovereignty requires owning every layer, from hardware to software.

Poduval said sovereignty in AI rests on ownership, control and freedom to innovate. He added that the partnership reflects the UAE's ability to develop advanced technology locally, with potential to extend these capabilities to markets abroad.