In a decisive move to future-proof its digital infrastructure, the Kingdom of Bahrain has signed a landmark agreement with SandboxAQ, a global leader in AI-driven cybersecurity and cryptographic management, to operationalise post-quantum protection across government and critical sectors. The partnership positions Bahrain among the first nations to implement a nationwide cybersecurity modernisation framework designed to withstand the looming threat of quantum computing.
The urgency is clear: experts predict that cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) capable of breaking today’s encryption could emerge as early as 2029. Meanwhile, “harvest-now, decrypt-later” attacks are already targeting encrypted data, putting decades of sensitive archives, classified communications, and national identity records at risk. Bahrain’s proactive stance aims to neutralise these threats before they materialise.
“This partnership lays the foundation for a quantum-safe economy and a new era of security.” — His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, CEO, NCSC, Bahrain
Under the agreement, Bahrain will deploy SandboxAQ’s AQtive Guard platform, an AI-powered solution that provides full visibility, assessment, and remediation of vulnerabilities caused by weak encryption and the rapid proliferation of AI agents and non-human identities. The rollout will span more than 60 ministry environments, making this one of the most ambitious cryptographic security transformations globally.
His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, CEO of the National Cyber Security Center, stated: “This partnership with SandboxAQ marks a significant milestone in our mission to secure sovereign data, intellectual property, and other digital assets from both internal and external cyber threats. SandboxAQ’s world-class technologies will help Bahrain protect its citizens, businesses, and government agencies while laying the foundation for a new era of security and economic growth.”
Mohammed Aboul-Magd, Vice President of Product, Cybersecurity at SandboxAQ, added: “Bahrain is taking a bold and much-needed step by operationalising technology that keeps pace with evolving threats. This sets a new benchmark for cyber resilience across the region.”
This initiative forms a cornerstone of Bahrain’s long-term cybersecurity strategy, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding national data, driving economic resilience, and accelerating secure digital transformation.
