How to Select AWS ME-Central-1 SES for Cognito Email Setup Despite Access

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If you’re using Amazon Cognito with Amazon SES for sending verification emails, it’s important to know that there are regional restrictions. Not all regions where Cognito is available support sending emails through SES from the same region.

For example, if you’re operating in the Middle East (UAE) region, known as me-central-1, you might notice that SES isn’t available to use directly from that same region with Cognito. Instead, the system might automatically suggest using another region like Frankfurt (eu-central-1), which is listed as an approved alternative. This situation occurs because only certain regions support SES integration with Cognito directly, and me-central-1 isn’t one of them.

Cognito and SES integration can be configured in a few ways:

– Some regions allow you to use SES from multiple regions.
– Others restrict you to only using SES from the same region as your Cognito user pool.
– Some regions require you to use designated alternative regions for SES.

Since me-central-1 isn’t listed among the supported regions for SES, you won’t see it as an option in your Cognito settings. Instead, Frankfurt (eu-central-1) may be the only available choice for email services, even if you have SES setup in me-central-1 or other regions like ap-south-1. This is because only specific regions are compatible for in-region SES use with Cognito.

What can you do if you’re in this situation? Here are some options:

1. Use the SES region that’s available to you, such as Frankfurt (eu-central-1).
2. Consider moving your Cognito user pool to a region where SES integration is supported directly.
3. Reach out to AWS Support to see if there are any workarounds, especially if your use case has strict compliance or security needs.

Keep in mind that email verification depends on the region. If your SES is set up in a different region from your Cognito user pool, the email traffic will route through the SES region linked to the email address being used, which can affect delivery and compliance.

Staying aware of these regional differences can help ensure your email processes run smoothly and avoid unexpected issues. For more details, check out the official Amazon Cognito documentation on email settings and regional data considerations.