Establishing a Quantum Foothold
French quantum computing firm Pasqal and Saudi investment group Eleven Ventures have signed an agreement to create a joint venture. This partnership intends to deploy, market, and manage Pasqal’s neutral-atom quantum computing systems throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider region. The move represents a significant commitment to localizing advanced hardware rather than relying solely on external access.
Deployment plans involve installing multiple quantum systems over the coming years. By establishing this infrastructure on Saudi soil, the joint venture aims to move beyond simple cloud access. The project seeks to build a local base of expertise and talent, ensuring the Kingdom develops the skills necessary to maintain and work with these machines directly. This aligns with broader national efforts to turn high-level computing into a core internal capability.
Strategic Vision for Regional Development
Dr. Wasiq Bokhari, Chief Executive Officer of Pasqal, noted that the Kingdom has prioritized the transition of advanced computing into a national asset more rapidly than many other global markets. His firm views this collaboration as a way to house quantum hardware directly within the country. The goal is for the technology to scale alongside regional ambitions, rather than serving as an external add-on.
Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Bin Talal, Chairman of the Board of Pasqal Arabia, frames this timing as a critical window. He compares the current state of quantum technology to the early stages of artificial intelligence. By moving now, the regional leadership hopes to avoid watching from the sidelines while others define the future. The project aims to make the Kingdom a primary hub for this specific sector of hardware development.
Broader Context and Industry Movement
This partnership follows a wider trend of nations and large firms investing heavily in domestic high-tech infrastructure. Companies across the Middle East are seeking to diversify their technological foundations, moving away from a reliance on imported services. The electronics industry remains active as firms attempt to build local capacity for semiconductors, batteries, and advanced processing.
As the joint venture begins its rollout, industry analysts will watch for how quickly the systems become available for commercial use. Building local quantum talent represents a long-term hurdle, but it is one the partners explicitly identified as a priority. Success here could cement the Kingdom’s position in the global quantum race, providing a domestic platform for research and industrial applications that currently require international partnerships. The timeline for deployment remains the key metric for stakeholders to monitor in the coming 24 months.