Sovereign Superconducting Hardware Initiative Launched in Abu Dhabi

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has launched a strategic initiative to develop the United Arab Emirates' first domestic quantum computer. This project, based in the TII's Quantum Research Centre (QRC), is being carried out in collaboration with the Barcelona-based deep-tech startup Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech. The program is led by Professor José Ignacio Latorre and aims to bolster national hardware sovereignty while advancing the UAE's digital, knowledge-based economy.

The engineering team has selected a solid-state superconducting qubit architecture for the project, mirroring the technical pathways used by global leaders like Google and IBM. This choice was driven by the potential for manufacturing reproducibility and clear scaling paths. Initial phases focus on establishing a localized laboratory with high-precision cleanroom fabrication capabilities and cryogenic infrastructure, with plans to move toward benchmarking native quantum chips to validate coherence parameters.

This initiative is supported by a robust regional capital network, including backing from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Mubadala Investment Company, as part of the broader Ghadan 21 accelerator fund. Within the TII, the quantum hardware group will collaborate with departments specializing in autonomous robotics, cryptography, and advanced materials to ensure that early quantum processing units can be applied to practical challenges such as molecular simulation for battery design and pharmaceutical discovery.

Source: quantumcomputingreport.com
Publication date: 09.06.2026
Author: Mohamed Abdel-Kareem