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Quantum Innovation Summit Wraps Up 2025 Edition

The highlight event showcased key industry collaborations and groundbreaking research, reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in quantum technology.

Published

1 year ago

March 7, 2025

Joanna Melki

quantum innovation summit wraps up 2025 edition

The 2025 Quantum Innovation Summit, hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council, has come to a close, after a wave of groundbreaking discussions, strategic partnerships, and ambitious plans for the future of quantum tech. The event solidified the UAE’s role as a global leader in quantum advancements, bringing together experts from government, academia, and industry.

Bridging Research And Industry

The summit featured heavyweights including Microsoft, IBM, D-Wave, Palo Alto Networks, IonQ, Quantlase, QuantumGate, PASQAL, ID Quantique, and Quantinuum. Over three days, attendees discussed important research and its real-world application, emphasizing quantum’s growing role in AI, computing, cryptography, and cybersecurity.

The event kicked off with the Quantum Futures Forum, a high-level gathering aligning quantum innovations with global security, economic resilience, and policymaking. The Quantum Debates provided a platform for industry leaders to address challenges in governance, investment, and commercial adoption, paving the way for a more collaborative quantum economy.

The official opening featured a keynote by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, who underscored the critical role of quantum technology in national security. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), followed with insights into TII’s advancements in quantum computing and cryptography, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to cutting-edge research and development.

Academic And Industry Collaborations Take Center Stage

The summit placed a strong emphasis on fostering quantum talent and innovation. The Academic Aisle provided a platform for researchers and students to showcase their work, while the Vernewell QInnovision World Challenge Finals spotlighted groundbreaking quantum solutions, strengthening the UAE’s reputation as a hub for quantum entrepreneurship.

Key announcements during the event included:

VerneX Quantum Valley Launch – Vernewell Group unveiled this initiative at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Center for Quantum and Topological Systems (CQTS), aiming to drive quantum commercialization and deep-tech entrepreneurship.
ID Quantique & Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy Partnership – A major step forward in enhancing quantum-secure communications for maritime trade and global logistics.
Kipu Quantum & CQTS NYU Abu Dhabi Collaboration – Strengthening ties between academia and industry to advance quantum algorithm development and real-world applications.
Quantum Marine Conference – A joint initiative by Vernewell Group and Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy exploring how quantum technology can improve maritime cybersecurity and efficiency.
Vernewell Group & REACH Group MoU – A strategic partnership to accelerate quantum adoption both in the UAE and globally, reinforcing the country’s leadership in deep-tech ecosystems.

Honoring Innovation And Leadership

The summit also took time to recognize individuals driving quantum advancements: H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, H.E. Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, and H.E. Faisal Al Bannai were honored with National Achievement Leadership in Innovation Awards for their contributions to cybersecurity and digital transformation.

The FemTum Leap Awards also celebrated pioneering women shaping the future of quantum technology, reinforcing the need for diverse leadership in deep tech. Meanwhile, the QInnovision World Challenge highlighted innovative quantum-powered solutions poised to transform industries.

Looking Ahead: The Future Of Quantum

Reflecting on the summit’s success, Mrs. Malak Trabelsi Loeb, Founder of the Quantum Innovation Summit and CEO of Vernewell Group, shared:

“With the support of the UAE Cyber Security Council and our esteemed academic partner, the Center for Quantum and Topological Systems at NYU Abu Dhabi, alongside key industry and government leaders, [we have solidified our] position as a global platform for quantum advancement. The strategic partnerships and commitments made during this summit reinforce our mission at Vernewell Group to ensure quantum technology drives economic resilience, security, and sustainable progress on a global scale”.

As quantum technology continues to evolve, the Quantum Innovation Summit is set to return on April 7–9, 2026. With a broader global network and deeper industry collaborations, the event will remain a cornerstone for shaping the future of quantum computing, investment, and policy development.

Related Topics:Quantum Computing Quantum Innovation Summit

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News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.