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Aramco Signs Quantum Computer Agreement With Pasqal
The partnership will see Pasqal install and operate the 200-qubit device in Saudi Arabia, with a scheduled deployment in mid-2025.
Aramco, one of the world’s leading companies in the integrated energy and chemicals sector, has signed a deal with Pasqal, a global pioneer in neutral atom quantum computing, to install Saudi Arabia’s first quantum computer in the second half of 2025.
Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, Aramco EVP of Technology & Innovation, explained: “Aramco is delighted to partner with Pasqal to bring cutting-edge, high-performance quantum computing capabilities to the Kingdom. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, we believe it is crucial to seize opportunities presented by new, impactful technologies, and we aim to pioneer the use of quantum computing in the energy sector. Our agreement with Pasqal allows us to harness the expertise of a leading player in this field as we continue to build state-of-the-art solutions into our business”.
The 200-qubit quantum computer will initially be set to a base-level analog mode. Within the following 12 months, the system will see upgrades (known as “analog-digital mode”), which will give it even greater computational power.
Pasqal and Aramco wish to leverage the quantum computer to establish a regional center for quantum research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to find new applications for the energy sector. The plans involve partnering with leading academic institutions to find breakthroughs in quantum algorithm development.
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Georges-Olivier Reymond, Pasqal CEO & Co-founder, stated: “The era of quantum computing is here. No longer confined to theory, it’s transitioning to real-world applications, empowering organizations to solve previously intractable problems at scale. Since launching Pasqal in 2019, we have directed our efforts towards concrete quantum computing algorithms immediately applicable to customer use cases. Through this agreement, we’ll be at the forefront of accelerating commercial adoption of this transformative technology in Saudi Arabia”.
The agreement forms part of Pasqal’s greater strategy and activity in Saudi Arabia after establishing an office in the Kingdom in 2023. During the same year, Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures also participated in a Series B fundraising round for Pasqal.
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Dirham-Backed Stablecoin DDSC Enters Live Phase In UAE
Central Bank approval moves the dirham-backed token into deployment, targeting regulated payments and settlement flows.
The UAE has cleared the launch of DDSC, a dirham-backed stablecoin now entering live operation after approval from the Central Bank. The move pushes the project beyond its pilot phase and into the country’s regulated financial system.
The token is backed by a consortium led by IHC, Sirius International Holding and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), framing it as an institutional instrument rather than a consumer crypto product. DDSC was first announced in April 2025, but regulatory clearance now allows deployment and integration across approved channels.
DDSC runs on ADI Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain built by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation. The infrastructure is designed for governance and performance requirements expected by large institutions, linking blockchain settlement with existing compliance and oversight frameworks.
The focus is practical, targeting treasury settlements, high-value payments, trade and supply-chain transactions, and programmable financial flows for regulated entities. FAB plans to offer access to the token through approved platforms for its clients, keeping the rollout inside controlled banking environments.
“DDSC marks a defining milestone in the UAE’s digital finance journey,” said Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC. “With the Central Bank’s approval and our transition into live operation, we are delivering trusted, institutional-grade infrastructure that strengthens resilience, accelerates innovation, and expands what is possible in regulated digital payments”.
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FAB says the project reflects how stablecoins can sit within traditional finance when risk controls are built in from the outset. “This milestone underscores that stablecoins can be integrated responsibly into the financial system when built to meet rigorous regulatory and risk requirements,” said Futoon Hamdan AlMazrouei, Group Head of Personal, Business, Wealth and Privileged Client Banking Group at FAB.
The launch reinforces the UAE’s strategy of pushing digital finance through regulation instead of open-ended crypto experimentation. Stablecoins in this model are positioned less as trading assets and more as programmable extensions of national currency, aimed at institutional scale and government use cases.
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