ع
The expanded partnership brings Qatar’s MEEZA into an initial memorandum of understanding signed in June 2026 by Mekdam Holding Group and Quandela, according to a joint statement issued by the three organisations. The agreement seeks to combine Quandela’s photonic quantum systems with MEEZA’s sovereign data-centre and cloud infrastructure to support high-value use cases in energy, government, critical infrastructure, healthcare and education. A dedicated Quantum Center of Excellence will be established in Doha to serve all Gulf Cooperation Council member states, the statement added.
Mekdam Holding Group said in the statement that the collaboration marks its formal entry into quantum computing while advancing Qatar National Vision 2030 objectives for technological leadership. The publicly listed Qatari conglomerate posted 21.9 percent year-on-year revenue growth in fiscal 2025 and maintained an order backlog of QAR 3.1 billion, according to its published figures. Integration of quantum processing into Mekdam’s existing artificial-intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud portfolios will occur under a joint steering committee that will co-design fault-tolerant quantum computing and quantum machine-learning algorithms.
Quandela, a European leader in photonic quantum hardware, will provide remote cloud access to its processors as an initial step toward eventual on-premise deployments in the region, the joint announcement stated. The partnership also includes programmes for local skills development, training and certification to foster a sustainable quantum ecosystem. Bara’ Sami, general group manager of Mekdam Holding Group, said in the statement, “This partnership marks Mekdam’s entry into quantum computing and reflects our ambition to become a leading player in the field across the region. Together with Quandela, we aim to deliver high-value use cases for the Gulf’s strategic sectors and build a strong local skills ecosystem, fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.”
MEEZA will connect the quantum layer to Qatar’s sovereign digital infrastructure, including managed IT services and hyperscale-ready data centres, according to the companies’ announcement. The tie-up builds on an earlier MoU formalised at the Vision Golfe forum in Paris under the patronage of the French President, a Quandela press release distributed in June 2026 noted. Xavier Pereira, chief growth officer of Quandela, stated in that release that partnering with a leading technological player based in Doha will accelerate progress in a dynamic and innovative region essential for the future of quantum information technology.
The initiative aligns with broader Gulf strategies for digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence, the joint statement indicated. No specific financial terms, hardware-deployment timelines or investment figures were disclosed in the initial announcement. The partners committed to further agreements that will detail technical roadmaps and implementation schedules.
