Aramco and Pasqal Deploy Saudi Arabia's First Quantum Computer for Industrial Use
Saudi Aramco and French quantum computing company Pasqal have achieved a major milestone for the Middle East's technology landscape with the successful deployment of Saudi Arabia's first quantum computer — and the region's first dedicated to industrial applications. The 200-qubit neutral-atom system is installed at Aramco's data center in Dhahran.
The quantum computer will be used to develop applications across the energy, materials, and industrial sectors. Specific use cases include predictive maintenance for complex energy infrastructure, optimization of energy distribution networks, and accelerating the discovery of new chemical compounds and materials. Pasqal's system uses neutral-atom technology, arranging atoms in programmable two-dimensional arrays.
Aramco's venture capital arm, Wa'ed Ventures, initially invested in Pasqal in January 2023 as one of the company's early strategic investors. Since then, it has actively supported Pasqal's localization efforts in Saudi Arabia. As part of the partnership, Pasqal will provide training programs and joint research opportunities for Saudi engineers and scientists, strengthening the Kingdom's quantum ecosystem.
This deployment is part of a broader Middle East trend toward building sovereign technology capabilities in 2026, with the UAE's Technology Innovation Institute also collaborating with Quantinuum on quantum algorithm development for logistics and materials discovery.
This is the first quantum computer deployed in the Middle East for industrial use — a significant milestone for the region's sovereign tech ambitions. For builders in MENA, it signals that quantum computing is no longer theoretical here; it's operational infrastructure.
What will Aramco use the quantum computer for?
The 200-qubit system will be used for predictive maintenance of energy infrastructure, optimization of energy distribution, and accelerating materials discovery for industrial applications.