Asia Tech Wire (May 24) -- Oil giant Saudi Aramco signed an agreement with Pasqal, a company in the field of neutral atom quantum computing, to install the first quantum computer in Saudi Arabia.

Under the agreement, Pasqal will install, maintain, and operate a 200-qubit quantum computer, which is due to be operational in the second half of 2025.

Pasqal and Saudi Aramco plan to use the quantum computer to identify new cases and hope to establish Saudi Arabia as a quantum research powerhouse.

The collaboration would involve leading academic institutions with the aim of fostering breakthroughs in quantum algorithm development — a crucial step for unlocking the true potential of quantum computing.