Details
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), via the National Center for Quantum Technologies, signed a multi-year research collaboration with Pasqal to advance quantum technologies and strengthen post-quantum cryptography readiness in Saudi Arabia (08/2026).
- The partnership pairs Pasqal's neutral-atom quantum processing technology and cloud services with KACST's national research infrastructure, with initial work focused on quantum-safe cryptographic solutions at the National Center for Quantum Technologies.
- KACST and Pasqal aim to develop, test and package quantum-safe cryptographic solutions with a view to commercial offerings for the Saudi market, positioning quantum cryptography as the first focus area within a broader quantum research program.
- The agreement builds on Pasqal's recent milestones in the Kingdom, including the May 2026 inauguration with Aramco of Saudi Arabia's first quantum computer in Dhahran and the Middle East's first commercial Quantum Computing-as-a-Service platform, as well as an August 2026 joint venture with Eleven Ventures to deploy and scale neutral-atom quantum systems across Saudi Arabia and MENA.
- The collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambitions to become a global hub for advanced technologies, reinforcing a growing national quantum ecosystem spanning research, infrastructure, industrial applications and workforce development; Pasqal's CEO Dr. Wasiq Bokhari is also highlighting this transition from research to industrial-scale quantum applications in a keynote at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh.
Impact
This collaboration strengthens Saudi Arabia's push to build sovereign quantum capabilities and quantum-safe security infrastructure, moving the Kingdom from early hardware deployments toward integrated research, commercialization and ecosystem-building. Over the next 12–24 months, coordinated initiatives with KACST, Aramco and Eleven Ventures are likely to accelerate local quantum talent development, attract industrial use cases in energy and finance, and position Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for neutral-atom quantum and post-quantum cryptography R&D.
