Saudi Arabia has taken a new step in advanced research with the launch of the Quantum Foundry at KAUST on 21 January 2026. The facility is a shared-access platform dedicated to quantum hardware fabrication in the Kingdom, supporting quantum information science and nanotechnology-related device work.
The Foundry is designed for quantum device prototyping, process development, and reproducible hardware fabrication. It supports superconducting, photonic, and hybrid quantum platforms, giving researchers and teams a place to design, build, and verify quantum components under one roof.
the Foundry operates through a phased launch, meaning its capabilities will expand over time as processes, expertise, and infrastructure are established. Its operating model combines KAUST cleanrooms with high-performance computing (HPC) and characterization tools as part of a design-build-verify workflow. The platform is also linked to commercialization through KAUST's innovation ecosystem.
Why it matters
For the wider community, the Foundry signals growing investment in deep-tech and future-facing science inside the Kingdom. Quantum technology is a field expected to shape computing, communications, and sensing in the years ahead, and a local fabrication platform helps build homegrown expertise and talent.
No exact access fees, training costs, or usage prices have been published for the facility so far. There are also no stated visa, permit, or service steps tied to the launch, and no official validity period for access or membership has been announced. Interested researchers and teams should rely on KAUST's own official channels for the latest details as the Foundry's capabilities expand in the coming phases.
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