Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Mohamad Khawaja, Founding Partner at Fikr Ventures, said Saudi Arabia’s partnership with IBM in quantum computing reflects a forward-looking strategy, especially as the technology remains far from commercial maturity.

Speaking to Asharq Business, Khawaja explained that while quantum computing is not yet ready for trading or franchising, it presents a strong opportunity for investment and localization, noting that IBM remains the global leader in the field.

Khawaja stated that the Kingdom could begin reaping the benefits of this investment within five to ten years, with promising research applications in sectors such as petrochemicals, logistics, and transportation.

He emphasized that the initiative offers a “golden opportunity” to build and localize expertise rather than merely purchasing advanced technologies, adding that Saudi Arabia’s collaboration with IBM will help develop real, locally driven quantum computing applications.