Quantum Technologies and Quantum Computing in the Middle East

Introduction: Returning to an Innovative Middle East

It’s been about 1.5 years since I returned to the Middle East – a region I first worked in back in 2006-2008. Coming back after over a decade, I’m struck by how the tech landscape has transformed. The Middle East is now, in my view, one of the most exciting regions for emerging technologies. Industry leaders seem to agree – for instance, IonQ’s CEO Peter Chapman noted that while regional investment in quantum and AI started smaller than in the West, it’s rapidly growing with a focused approach on high-impact sectors like energy, finance, and life sciences. This concentrated effort means the GCC countries are aiming to leapfrog into leadership positions in areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Or even the combination of the two – Quantum AI. Indeed, one of the most striking observations I had since returning to the Middle East is that discussions around Quantum AI extend beyond academia into active commercial discussions. Companies here see Quantum AI as a potential long-term strategic investment—a pathway to leapfrogging into global tech leadership—even though tangible benefits might still be years away. Elsewhere, it’s often dismissed as an academic curiosity due to uncertain short-term returns. As a techno-optimist, this forward-thinking approach leaves me confident that the region is positioning itself for future success.

My own career journey mirrors this regional shift. I went from working at a Big 4 consultancy to leading specialized quantum technology research and consulting teams at Applied Quantum and Secure Quantum. This transition was fueled by the same momentum that’s driving the region forward – a recognition that quantum technologies are part of the next wave of innovation. With that in mind, I set out to research and summarize the Middle East’s quantum market developments.

Two Different Worlds in the Middle East

When conversations turn to quantum computing (QC) and quantum technology, it’s historically been rare to hear the Middle East mentioned as an innovator. Part of the reason is that the region comprises two very different economic realities. On one hand, you have the wealthy states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain – and also Israel – which boast high-income economies. On the other hand are countries such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Oman, and Jordan with far less financial clout. In practical terms, only the first group has had the resources and stability to invest significantly in cutting-edge fields like quantum tech.

For this analysis, I’m focusing on the Gulf states (especially Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar) and Turkey, which has emerged as an important regional player straddling the Middle East and Europe. I’ll be leaving Israel’s quantum ecosystem aside, as it warrants a separate deep-dive of its own. The selected countries all have the political will and petrodollar (or gas-dollar) reserves to pour into advanced technology – and they’ve all recently launched notable quantum initiatives. It’s a stark contrast to the mid-2000s, when regional tech discussions were more about building telecom infrastructure or IT services. Today, leaders here are talking about quantum algorithms and national quantum computing hubs. And even about Quantum AI. The Middle East is determined not to miss out on the quantum revolution, and that determination is reshaping the tech narrative of this region.

Middle East Driving Factors for Quantum Adoption

What’s behind this quantum push in the Middle East? Two key factors stand out: wealth from natural resources and a need to diversify economies, coupled with relative political stability. Gulf nations have long relied on oil and gas – and now they’re investing those petrodollars into technology to pivot away from hydrocarbon-dependent GDP. This access to capital, plus stable governments that can plan for the long term, forms the backbone of their quantum ambitions. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are prime examples: each has strategic national visions (like Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Centennial 2071 plan) that highlight innovation and knowledge economies, giving quantum tech a supportive policy environment.

Another driver is the race to not get left behind. All of these countries recognize they must act fast if they want to catch up with the massive investments going into quantum in the US, China, and Europe. In the past few years, the world’s tech superpowers have poured billions into quantum research – from the U.S. National Quantum Initiative to China’s multi-billion dollar quantum programs. Sensing this, Middle Eastern governments are moving with urgency. The UAE, for instance, has arguably taken an early lead in regional quantum efforts (more on that soon). But across the board, there’s a shared understanding: quantum technology could be as transformative as oil once was, and no one here wants to fall behind in securing a stake in that future.

Crucially, investing in quantum also aligns with these nations’ goals of economic diversification and security. Quantum computing promises breakthroughs in industries like finance, energy, and logistics – all vital to Gulf economies – while quantum communications promise new levels of cybersecurity (a priority for governments). So whether it’s the allure of new industries, the fear of missing out globally, or the quest for tech-based security, the driving forces are clear. Oil wealth provides the means, and national visions provide the mandate. The result is an unprecedented regional effort to join the next tech revolution.

The UAE’s Quantum Computing Efforts

When it comes to concrete progress in quantum technologies, the United Arab Emirates stands out as a regional trailblazer. A good place to start is Abu Dhabi, which has become the hub of the UAE’s quantum ambitions. Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council established the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), and within it a dedicated Quantum Research Center (QRC). In a notable collaboration, the QRC was formed in partnership with Barcelona-based startup Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech – a sign that the UAE is leveraging global expertise from the get-go. The QRC is led by renowned scientists like Professor José Ignacio Latorre, and its mission is bold: build the Arab world’s first quantum computer and foster a homegrown quantum ecosystem.

By late 2022, TII’s QRC had a prototype lab set up in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City campus with several superconducting qubits operational. Professor Andrew Lütken, Executive Director of the QRC’s Quantum Computing group, stated that they were already “laying the foundations for producing [the UAE’s] first simple quantum chips.” In other words, the hardware groundwork is in progress. At that time they had 3 qubits running and aimed to have 5 by end of 2022, and at least 30 qubits within two years. More importantly, Lütken emphasized quality over quantity: “More than the number of qubits, it is the quality of qubits and how well they work together that really matters,” he told Wired. This focus on high-fidelity qubits – alongside training “a new generation of quantum engineers” by pairing exceptional local talent with global experts – underlines the UAE’s strategic approach. And it’s yielding results. In 2023, TII announced it had fabricated the MENA region’s first superconducting qubit. TII’s team has also developed quantum key distribution solutions and published open-source tools (like the Qibo quantum software platform), solidifying the UAE’s status as a serious player in this field. The UAE isn’t going it alone either: it has partnered with leading quantum companies abroad. For example, Abu Dhabi’s QRC renewed an agreement with IonQ to access one of IonQ’s most powerful quantum systems, ensuring Emirati researchers can leverage cutting-edge hardware while they build their own. All these efforts point to a determined strategy – the UAE is not only building infrastructure but also integrating into the global quantum community.

Beyond hardware labs and research papers, the UAE is investing heavily in education and community-building around quantum tech. In April 2022, New York University Abu Dhabi hosted the country’s first quantum computing hackathon, organized by professors Sana Odeh and Hisham Sati. They drew inspiration from hackathons at MIT and CERN, bringing over 150 students from around the world to the UAE to code on real quantum computers. The problems tackled ranged from finance to logistics to healthcare – reflecting sectors the UAE cares about. “There’s going to be a need for millions of jobs in the future based on quantum computing,” Odeh noted, highlighting why building quantum programming skills now is so important. Such events are dual-purpose: they popularize quantum computing among the youth and also signal to the world that the UAE is serious about cultivating talent. The country has also been raising awareness by hosting multiple events and symposiums on advanced quantum technologies. In November 2024, Abu Dhabi welcomed over a thousand global experts to a two-day conference, CyberQ, focused on “Security in the Quantum Era.” I had the privilege to speak at this event, where industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers discussed critical security implications arising from quantum advancements. Then, in January 2025, the city held the Quantum Technology Symposium (QTS), the first of its kind in the Middle East aligned with the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science. It brought together global luminaries – from Oxford professors to the head of the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre – right to the UAE’s capital. Hearing experts discuss challenges and opportunities on Emirati soil, at back-to-back high-profile gatherings, was a proud moment and reinforced the sense that the UAE is now firmly on the quantum map.

Perhaps most striking is how the industry in the UAE is starting to get involved alongside academia. Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s financial communities, for instance, are exploring quantum computing use cases in finance. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, has quietly built a team dedicated to quantum research for finance. They even hired renowned quant researcher Marcos Lopez de Prado to help drive quantum adoption in portfolio optimization and risk analysis. Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the financial free zone, hosted technical conferences in 2023 and 2024 on quantum computing’s role in finance – an example of the UAE’s commitment to cross-pollinate research into real-world applications. This top-to-bottom ecosystem building – from basic research and hardware development, to education, to industry pilots – shows why the UAE currently leads others in the region. In a little over five years (since launching its first quantum initiatives around 2018), the UAE has positioned itself as a regional pioneer with global aspirations. And as someone working here now, it’s amazing to see a place better known for skyscrapers and oil fields rapidly become home to dilution refrigerators and quantum algorithms.

Saudi Arabia’s Quantum Ambitions (“The Kingdom’s” Role)

Saudi Arabia, often referred to simply as “the Kingdom,” has made quantum technology a pillar of its national innovation strategy. This comes as no surprise – it aligns perfectly with Vision 2030, Saudi’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy away from oil and become a global tech and innovation hub. In late 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) released a landmark report titled “Quantum Economy Landscape in Saudi Arabia,” which outlines the country’s strategic vision and roadmap for quantum tech development. In essence, Saudi Arabia is laying the policy and research groundwork now so that quantum technologies can drive innovation, economic growth, and national security in the years ahead. This top-down commitment is backed by substantial funding. For instance, Saudi Arabia announced a commitment of $6.4 billion toward future technologies in early 2022, explicitly recognizing quantum computing as a crucial element of technological leadership. That massive investment push underscores how serious the Kingdom is about not missing the quantum boat.

On the ground, Saudi Arabia’s approach to building a quantum ecosystem is comprehensive – spanning education, research, and international partnerships. It starts with human capital: Saudi knows it needs a pipeline of skilled quantum scientists and engineers. Over the last couple of years, universities have begun introducing specialized programs. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) launched a Master’s program with a focus on quantum computing, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) ramped up research in quantum information since 2021. At the undergraduate level, we’re seeing new courses and even research internships related to quantum tech. Initiatives are underway to spark interest as early as high school, though those are still limited pilots. By the university stage, however, Saudi students can now engage in quantum research – something unheard of back in the 2000s. For example, KFUPM has set up advanced labs for quantum communication experiments and high-performance computing simulations. King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh has a Center of Excellence in Information Assurance working on post-quantum cryptography (anticipating future security needs). On the skills front, the government is also partnering with global leaders: the Tuwaiq Academy, a Saudi tech training program, collaborates with IBM to provide hands-on quantum computing training to students and professionals. This kind of partnership ensures that the local workforce gets exposure to cutting-edge expertise. Still, the Kingdom acknowledges challenges in education – the pool of qualified quantum educators and researchers is currently small, and global competition for talent is fierce. Addressing this is part of the national strategy; expect to see scholarships, research grants, and international recruitment aimed at growing Saudi’s quantum talent base in the coming years.

If education and research form the base, partnerships and big projects are the accelerators for Saudi Arabia’s quantum agenda. And there have been some headline-grabbing collaborations. Perhaps the most notable is with French quantum computing company Pasqal: In 2024, Saudi Aramco (the national oil company) and Pasqal announced plans to deploy a 200-qubit quantum computer in Saudi Arabia. This would be a major hardware milestone – essentially bringing a state-of-the-art quantum machine to the region for the first time. It signals Saudi’s intent to not just use quantum algorithms, but to host quantum infrastructure on its soil. Alongside this, Saudi entities are teaming up with established tech giants. A few examples of public-private partnerships stand out:

• Aramco and IBM – establishing a joint innovation hub in Saudi Arabia to explore industrial applications of quantum computing. (IBM’s expertise in quantum computing will help Aramco apply quantum algorithms to areas like energy, materials science, and optimization problems in its operations.)
• NEOM and Arqit – developing quantum encryption solutions to secure the futuristic smart city of NEOM from advanced cyber threats. (Arqit, a UK-based quantum encryption firm, is providing know-how to ensure NEOM’s communications are resilient against even quantum-powered cyber attacks.)
• C4IR Saudi & WEF – launching a “Quantum for Society Challenge” in partnership with the World Economic Forum to crowdsource quantum solutions for global issues like climate change and healthcare. (This is more of an innovation challenge than a commercial deal, but it reflects Saudi’s desire to be seen at the forefront of applying quantum tech to societal problems.)

These collaborations not only accelerate technology development, but also create a pathway for turning research into tangible products and economic value, as the C4IR report notes. As someone living in the Kingdom, I find it exciting that Saudi Arabia is engaging companies like IBM and Pasqal – it brings global attention to the region’s efforts. And importantly, it shows a recognition that quantum is a team sport: by partnering up, Saudi can leapfrog some stages and quickly build know-how.

Even with big investments and partnerships, Saudi Arabia is candid about the hurdles ahead. A section of the previously-mentioned report is devoted to “Challenges and Opportunities,” and it lists the key issues: a talent shortage, infrastructure gaps, and intense global competition. In short, Saudi has far fewer quantum researchers today than it needs; its labs and facilities are just starting to be built; and it’s up against powerhouses like the US, China, and Europe who are racing ahead. These are not easy challenges, but the upside is that the government is aware of them and actively planning to overcome them. Recommendations in the roadmap include establishing specialized facilities like a “Quantum Foundry” to support hardware R&D (leveraging Saudi’s existing strengths in semiconductors), and fostering international collaboration to exchange expertise. The strategy also emphasizes public awareness – hosting events (e.g., celebrating World Quantum Day) to build a quantum-savvy culture. All of this is geared toward one goal: position Saudi Arabia as a regional quantum hub. With its strategic location and substantial government backing, Saudi wants to attract investment and talent from across the Middle East to collaborate and build a quantum industry centered in the Kingdom.

As I observe Saudi Arabia’s quantum journey, it reminds me of the nation’s previous forays into big science projects (like the giant KAUST research university launched in 2009). There’s a familiar pattern of top-level vision followed by rapid mobilization of resources. The difference now is the field – quantum tech is nascent and highly specialized. If Saudi succeeds, it could not only diversify its own economy but also serve as a quantum catalyst for the region. And given the momentum I’m seeing – from multi-billion dollar commitments to concrete partnerships – it’s increasingly likely that the Middle East’s first commercially useful quantum computer might reside behind Saudi palace walls, humming away solving energy optimization problems in a desert lab. At the very least, Saudi Arabia is making sure it has “skin in the game” for the quantum era.

Qatar’s Quantum Involvement

Qatar might be smaller in population than its Gulf neighbors, but it’s not missing out on the quantum trend. The nation’s quantum journey kicked off in earnest in 2022, driven by a mix of academic vision and defense interests. A key milestone was when Barzan Holdings – a Qatari state-owned defense company – invested $10 million in a research initiative at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha. This funding established the Qatar Center for Quantum Computing (QC2) at HBKU, a dedicated center to drive research in quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum artificial intelligence. For Qatar, which has a robust sovereign wealth fund and a knack for strategic investments (see: education, sports, media), putting money into quantum tech aligns with its goal of being a knowledge economy under Qatar National Vision 2030.

The QC2 center at HBKU represents the first major quantum research hub in the country. Announced in April 2022, it immediately set out to recruit a team of experts and acquire the necessary equipment to do impactful research. One of the local champions of this effort is Dr. Saif Al-Kuwari, an assistant professor at HBKU, who was awarded the multi-million-dollar grant. Dr. Al-Kuwari highlighted that this partnership between academia and a defense company is crucial to “secure Qatar’s strategic future in the sector and position it as a global player in emerging technologies.” His words resonate with Qatar’s broader approach: leverage today’s wealth (from LNG exports) to secure a place in the high-tech economy of tomorrow. In practical terms, Qatar’s initial focus areas in quantum make a lot of sense. Quantum computing research can dovetail with the country’s strengths in finance and energy (Qatar has significant banking and oil/gas operations that could benefit from quantum optimizations). Quantum cryptography, backed by a defense company, obviously appeals to national security – ensuring Qatar’s communications and data stay secure in a post-quantum world. And quantum AI merges two buzzwords that Qatar has shown interest in separately (the country has AI research initiatives and even a ministry of artificial intelligence in the region via the UAE).

While information on Qatar’s quantum progress isn’t as public as the UAE’s or Saudi’s, the fact that the investment came via the defense sector suggests some of the work might be dual-purpose (academic and military). It’s worth noting that Qatar Foundation (which HBKU is part of) has a history of driving cutting-edge research and bringing in international partners. If that trend continues, we might see Qatar collaborating with global quantum firms or institutes – perhaps a partnership with a leading quantum hardware company to get access to machines via the cloud, or sending Qatari students to labs overseas. In any case, Qatar’s approach so far has been targeted and well-funded: start a national center, focus on a few key research areas, and tie it to national priorities. From my perspective, given Qatar’s resources and ambition (this is the country that just hosted a FIFA World Cup, after all), it wouldn’t be surprising if in a few years they announce a quantum computing capability that supports, say, complex LNG reservoir simulations or ultra-secure communications for their finance sector. They’ve planted a seed with QC2, and now it’s about nurturing that into a full-fledged quantum ecosystem. The region – and frankly the world – will be watching to see what Qatar does next in the quantum space.

Turkey’s Quantum Computing Strategy

Turkey is a unique player in this discussion. Geographically and politically, it straddles Europe and the Middle East, and its tech investments reflect that dual identity. Historically, Turkey’s contributions to quantum research were largely academic. In the last decade, several Turkish universities developed strong research groups in quantum information science. For example, Bilkent University has worked on theoretical quantum computing topics (with projects even funded by agencies like the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research). Other institutions like Gazi University’s Photonics Research Center and İzmir Institute of Technology’s Applied Quantum Research Center have been active in areas like quantum optics and materials for quantum devices. These efforts show that Turkey has a bedrock of expertise and interest, even if it wasn’t pumping billions into the field. Additionally, Turkey boasts a grassroots community initiative known as QTurkey – essentially the country’s first quantum technologies enthusiasts network. QTurkey has been organizing workshops, study groups, and outreach events to popularize quantum tech in Turkish, acting as a gathering point for students and researchers across the nation. I find this bottom-up approach quite interesting: even before big government money rolled in, Turkish academics and young scientists were building a community so they wouldn’t be isolated in their quantum pursuits.

In the past couple of years, however, Turkey’s quantum strategy has leapt from academic journals into high-level government agendas. A turning point came in late 2024, when Turkey unveiled its first homegrown quantum computer. Called “QuanT”, it’s a 5-qubit machine developed by the TOBB University of Economics and Technology in collaboration with the Turkish defense sector. QuanT was officially launched on November 21, 2024, at a ceremony in Ankara, marking a national technology breakthrough for Turkey. This event was attended by heavyweights like the Turkish Vice President and the President of Defense Industries, underscoring the strategic importance Turkey places on quantum computing. The project had been over a decade in the making (initiated around 2010), reflecting a long-term vision to achieve technological independence in critical areas. The 5-qubit QuanT device itself is modest by global standards (companies like IBM and Google have devices with tens or even over a hundred qubits), but for Turkey it is a significant first step. It’s expected to help boost research in cryptography, AI, defense, and materials science – areas of direct relevance to Turkey’s national priorities. At the launch, officials announced plans to establish a Superconducting Quantum Chip Production Facility to follow up on this success, which would enable Turkey to fabricate more advanced quantum processors domestically. This plan dovetails with global trends (superconducting qubits are one of the leading hardware approaches) and shows Turkey’s intent to not remain a mere user of others’ technology, but to become a producer of quantum tech.

Turkey’s leadership has also started to articulate a clear quantum vision. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a speech on December 19, 2024, outlined ambitious plans to make Turkey a key player on the global quantum stage. He announced the establishment of a superconducting chip production facility (echoing the TOBB project’s aims) and framed it as a transformative leap for Turkey’s quantum capabilities. “Our forthcoming superconducting chip production facility will pave the way for developing higher-capacity quantum computers,” Erdoğan said, emphasizing that this move will help Turkey solve complex problems that classical supercomputers would take years to work through. He set a national goal: for Turkey to join the ranks of the top 15 countries in quantum computing. Hearing such statements at the highest level was pretty astonishing (in a good way) – it signals that quantum tech is no longer just a niche research topic in Turkey; it’s become part of the national tech narrative alongside things like drones, AI, and space satellites.

In summary, Turkey’s quantum strategy has rapidly evolved from quiet academic research to public national priority. The country is leveraging its strong science base, adding government impetus and funding to scale up. They’ve achieved a symbolic first quantum computer, and they’re building out fabrication infrastructure which could become a regional asset. Being one of the only Middle Eastern countries with an indigenous quantum computing prototype (the other being UAE’s in-progress work) gives Turkey a certain prestige. As someone closely watching regional developments, I think Turkey’s approach exemplifies tech sovereignty – they want to ensure they’re not dependent on others for such a critical technology. And with Europe investing heavily in quantum, Turkey’s engagement also ensures it can plug into European collaborations (despite not being in the EU, Turkey often partners in EU research programs). It will be worth watching how Turkey collaborates or competes with its neighbors; perhaps we’ll see a Turkey–Gulf partnership in quantum, or healthy competition spurring everyone on. Either way, Turkey has put its stake in the ground, and it’s no longer an afterthought in conversations about quantum innovation.

Quantum Startup Ecosystem: Nascent but Growing

One question that comes up is: beyond government initiatives and university labs, what about startups? After all, in North America, Europe, and East Asia, a lot of quantum innovation is driven by startups – agile companies commercializing research coming out of academia. In the Middle East, however, the quantum startup scene is still in its infancy (to put it mildly). As of now, the region lacks a representative body of startups in the space the way other tech hubs have. Most innovation and R&D is happening under government-funded programs or in university centers, rather than in garage startups or venture-backed companies. This isn’t too surprising – given the high upfront costs and specialized knowledge required for quantum tech, it often takes significant public investment to get things started. But it does mean that the entrepreneurial layer of the ecosystem is thin at the moment.

There have been a few exceptions. Notably, Quanterro Labs in the UAE was one rare startup that emerged a few years ago. Founded in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, Quanterro was focused on single-photon technologies, quantum cryptography, and communications systems. It was co-founded by researchers (Kaisar Parvez and Ram Soorat) aiming to build practical quantum solutions. For a while, Quanterro was cited as the Middle East’s only indigenous quantum tech startup. However, it appears that Quanterro has gone inactive, highlighting the challenges of sustaining a quantum hardware startup in the region. Aside from that, most “startups” in the quantum space here are either spinoffs from universities at a very early stage or local offices of international companies. We are starting to see global quantum firms showing interest in the Gulf – for example, Canada’s D-Wave and America’s IonQ have engaged in events or agreements in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But those aren’t homegrown ventures; they’re more like partnerships or pilot projects.

The good news is that everyone acknowledges this gap and expects it to change with time. As the foundational research labs produce results and as awareness of quantum business opportunities grows, we can anticipate the emergence of a regional startup ecosystem. Governments are already encouraging this: Dubai’s business-friendly free zones and Saudi’s NEOM project both have mandates to incubate high-tech startups, including quantum-focused ones. Investors in the region (like Mubadala, SoftBank’s big backers, or Saudi’s PIF) could eventually start funding quantum startups once there are viable teams and ideas. Additionally, conferences such as the Quantum Innovation Summit in Dubai and the quantum track in events like Intersec 2024 are now featuring startup pitch sessions and accelerators. That’s a sign that the region is trying to cultivate an innovation culture around quantum, not just government programs.

From my personal vantage point leading a quantum tech team, I can say there’s definitely grassroots interest among young engineers and scientists in starting companies – the challenge is finding a product-market fit in quantum that makes commercial sense at this early stage. But with each successful research demo and each pilot project with end-users (banks, oil companies, etc.), the pieces fall more into place. I suspect that within a few years, we’ll be talking about a handful of Middle Eastern quantum startups – perhaps specializing in niches like quantum cybersecurity (important for banking and government here) or quantum sensors for the oil and gas industry (a natural local use-case). In the meantime, the innovation is indeed mostly coming from the top (government labs) and academia. The region’s strategy might well be to let the public sector take on the initial risk and R&D costs, and then have the private sector spin off applications when the technology is a bit more mature. If that’s the case, it’s actually a reasonable approach for an emerging tech ecosystem.

To sum up the startup situation: nascent but promising. Just as I saw with the broader tech scene in the Middle East – where a decade ago there were only a few notable startups, and now unicorns (billion-dollar startups) are emerging in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and AI – the quantum startup scene might be a sleeping giant. All the ingredients (funding, talent, market need, government support) are assembling. It’s only a matter of time before entrepreneurship in quantum takes off here. And as someone passionate about quantum tech, I might even find myself advising or joining one of these new ventures down the line.

Conclusion: A Personal Outlook on the Quantum Middle East

Witnessing the Middle East’s quantum leap (pun intended) has been a thrilling ride, especially for me as someone who knew this region in its earlier days and has now returned to be part of its high-tech renaissance. A decade and a half ago, when I was embarking on my first quantum venture, if you’d told me that Saudi Arabia would be deploying a 200-qubit quantum computer, or that the UAE would fabricate its own qubits, or that Turkey would build a quantum chip lab, I would have been skeptical. Yet here we are – those things are happening or on the near horizon. The blend of visionary government investment, international collaboration, and budding local expertise is creating a unique quantum ecosystem in the Middle East, one that complements the traditional tech powerhouses in America, Europe, and Asia.

From my personal perspective, the most heartening aspect is the talent development. Meeting young students at a quantum hackathon in Abu Dhabi, or hearing about new quantum courses at a Saudi university, I sense the enthusiasm and potential of the next generation. They will be the ones to carry this momentum forward. And they won’t be starting from scratch; they’ll be building on solid foundations laid in these formative years of 2022–2025. The region’s first quantum computers may be relatively small-scale today, but they symbolize a broader transformation – a shift from consuming technology to creating technology. In the long run, that’s what will secure the Middle East’s place in the global tech landscape.

As with any deep tech, patience is required. Quantum breakthroughs don’t happen overnight, and the ROI might take years to materialize. But the commitment I’m seeing – whether it’s billions earmarked in national budgets or partnerships with world-leading companies – gives me confidence that this is not a short-term fad here. If my own forecast suggesting that advanced quantum computers will become a reality in the next 6-7 years come true, that’s an incredibly short timeline when you think about it. It means that in the span of my current assignment in the region, we might go from a handful of qubits in a lab to a medium-scale quantum computer tackling real problems – perhaps optimizing logistics for Hajj pilgrims in Saudi or running complex financial models for an Emirati investment fund.

On a personal note, being part of this journey is immensely rewarding. Leading a growing quantum technology team, I get to interface with global experts and local innovators alike. I’ve had conversations about quantum error correction over cups of Arabic coffee and debated quantum cryptography standards in meetings next to people who normally worry about classical IT infrastructure. It’s this intersection of worlds – the cutting-edge and the familiar – that makes the Middle East’s quantum scene so special. We are blending the region’s traditional strengths (like strategic planning and capital deployment) with the daring and creativity of frontier tech exploration.