Aramco is bringing quantum computing to the Middle East's energy sector, partnering with Pasqal to launch the region's first commercial quantum service.
Aramco and French quantum computing firm Pasqal on Tuesday inaugurated Saudi Arabia's first quantum computer, a 200-qubit machine, and launched the Middle East's first Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) platform to begin developing applications for the energy industry.
"Aramco is not waiting for quantum computing, it is helping to shape it as a global leader," Wasiq Bokhari, Pasqal CEO, said. "This inauguration is evidence that the most demanding industrial challenges in the world are now being tackled with Pasqal's quantum processors."
The system, located in Aramco's Dhahran data center, is a Pasqal neutral-atom processor with 200 programmable qubits that was first deployed in November 2025. The new QCaaS platform provides cloud access for Aramco and other regional enterprises to develop quantum-hybrid solutions for industrial operations, including port logistics, CO₂ storage optimization, and rig scheduling.
The move positions Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for quantum development, with Aramco targeting tangible operational benefits from a technology portfolio that it says has already delivered $11.3 billion in value since 2023. For Pasqal, which is pursuing a Nasdaq listing via a SPAC, it provides a critical, large-scale industrial use case with a state-owned energy giant.
The partnership gives Aramco a dedicated, production-ready quantum processing unit to accelerate its internal research. While Pasqal's neutral-atom approach is one of several competing quantum modalities, its inclusion in the IBM Quantum Network and this large-scale deployment with Aramco signal its growing commercial traction against platforms from Google or IonQ.
"We expect to leverage quantum computing to achieve tangible operational benefits and unlock new ways to capture value at scale," said Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation. The deal validates Pasqal's technology ahead of its planned public debut through a combination with Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. II, providing a key proof point for potential investors.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
