MANAMA – October 27, 2025: The Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, has announced a landmark partnership with SandboxAQ, a global leader in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, to establish a $1 billion biotechnology ecosystem in Bahrain.
The collaboration aims to position Bahrain as a regional biotech innovation hub, leveraging SandboxAQ’s advanced quantitative AI software to accelerate drug discovery and therapeutic development. Under the agreement, Bahrain will license SandboxAQ’s proprietary technology to identify and develop new drug targets, fostering a sustainable pipeline of intellectual property and scientific advancement.
According to Mumtalakat, the initiative is expected to generate over $1 billion in economic value for the Kingdom through the creation of new biotech assets, jobs, and research opportunities. A joint research committee will oversee a three-year program focused on developing valuable new drugs and establishing Bahrain as a center for biomedical innovation.
Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat, stated:
“This partnership with SandboxAQ marks a major milestone in our mission to diversify Bahrain’s economy and strengthen its health sector. By combining national resources with SandboxAQ’s world-class expertise in AI and quantitative modeling, we are laying the foundation for a new era of healthcare innovation and economic growth.”
Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, added:
“We are honored to partner with Mumtalakat and the Kingdom of Bahrain to catalyze a new IP-generating biotech economy. This collaboration harnesses the power of AI to accelerate drug discovery while attracting further investment and talent to Bahrain.”
The initiative supports Mumtalakat’s diversification strategy, aligning with Bahrain’s national vision to promote high-value, knowledge-driven sectors and establish the Kingdom as a hub for AI, quantum computing, and life sciences innovation.
