Tech UAE secures access to advanced US quantum computer By Megha Merani January 29, 2025, 12:44 PM IonQ IonQ staff (CEO Peter Chapman on the right) at a display of the company's Ion Trap technology at the New York Stock Exchange last month Quantum Research Centre deal Access to IonQ Forte computer UAE among handful of users Abu Dhabi’s Quantum Research Center (QRC) has expanded its agreement with IonQ, a US-listed quantum computing company, securing access to IonQ Forte, an advanced quantum computer. The deal places the UAE among a handful of users with access to such advanced systems, reflecting the Gulf state’s push to position itself as a global leader in technology and diversify its economy away from oil. QRC is part of the Technology Innovation Institute, backed by the Abu Dhabi government’s Advanced Technology Research Council. The centre is focusing on using quantum computing for real-world applications such as optimising financial portfolios, simulating physical systems and breakthroughs in chemistry and material sciences. “Our continued work with IonQ enables us to stay at the forefront of quantum research and further the UAE’s position as a leading technology and innovation hub,” Professor Dr Leandro Aolita, acting chief researcher at QRC, said in a statement. “These advanced quantum systems are integral to our efforts.” Quantum computers, unlike traditional ones, process data and perform calculations exponentially faster, allowing breakthroughs in areas such as drug discovery, supply chain optimisation and ultra-secure encryption. Classical computers process information using bits, which represent either a one or a zero. In contrast, quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in a state of superposition, meaning they can represent both one and zero simultaneously. This allows quantum computers to process multiple possibilities at once, solving problems that would take classical systems an impractically long time to compute. While quantum computing is still in its early stages, the UAE’s renewed partnership with IonQ follows a broader trend where Gulf states are betting heavily on high-tech sectors as part of economic transformation efforts. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund this week co-led a $104 million investment in French quantum startup Alice & Bob. For Abu Dhabi, quantum computing also complements its investments in space exploration, artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy. Globally, quantum computing is a key battleground in the tech race between the US and China, driven by its potential to break current encryption methods that protect sensitive digital information. At the same time, quantum tools can also accelerate AI development, training machine learning models faster, and create highly secure quantum communication systems to prevent hacking threats. Both nations have invested billions in quantum technology, recognising its potential to reshape industries and provide strategic advantages in national security. Qatar leads funding for quantum computing company Orlando Crowcroft: Gulf bets on a quantum computing leap Fighting cybercrime in the age of quantum computing As with AI, the US has tightened export restrictions on advanced quantum technologies to China to curb Beijing’s progress in the field. The rivalry intensified this week as Chinese startup DeepSeek launched a new AI model, sparking concerns over China’s rapid technological advancements and triggering a steep decline in US tech stocks. Chip-making giant Nvidia was hit hardest, losing nearly $600 billion in market value on Monday – the largest single-day loss in US history. IonQ’s stock also fell 3 percent in the fallout, but the company has experienced significant growth recently buoyed by investor enthusiasm about the potential of quantum computing to revolutionise industries such as AI, financial modelling and materials science. Over the last six months of 2024, IonQ’s stock price increased by approximately 500 percent.