Saudi Aramco, in partnership with Pasqal, has achieved a major milestone in the region’s technology sector with the deployment of the Middle East’s first quantum computer dedicated to industrial applications. The system, installed at Aramco’s data center in Dhahran, marks the first operational use of neutral-atom quantum computing in Saudi Arabia.

According to Aramco, the deployment of Pasqal’s quantum system represents an important step toward strengthening regional expertise and advancing quantum applications across the energy, materials, and industrial sectors in both the Kingdom and the wider Middle East.

The initiative supports Aramco’s broader strategy to adopt advanced digital technologies that enhance operational efficiency, accelerate innovation, and create long-term value. It also reflects Pasqal’s mission to deliver practical, ready-to-deploy quantum solutions for strategic sectors globally.

Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, Aramco’s Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation, said the company continues to drive innovation through the development and application of advanced digital solutions. He added that the partnership with Pasqal is a natural progression as Aramco explores opportunities in this emerging field of computing.

Pasqal CEO Loïc Henriet described the collaboration as a historic achievement, noting that the use of the company’s most powerful quantum computer to date marks a major step toward shaping the region’s quantum technology landscape.

Wa’ed Ventures, part of Aramco’s venture capital program, first invested in Pasqal in January 2023, becoming one of its early strategic investors. Since then, the fund has supported efforts to localize Pasqal’s technology and operations in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the development of a regional quantum ecosystem.

The Pasqal system installed at Aramco’s facility can control 200 qubits arranged in programmable two-dimensional arrays, providing a platform for exploring advanced quantum algorithms and potential industrial applications. As part of the partnership, Pasqal will also provide training programs and joint research opportunities for Saudi engineers and scientists to strengthen local expertise in quantum computing.