Israel and US plan joint $200 million quantum fund, eyeing collaboration with UAE and Saudi Arabia

Defence affairs analysis

Israel and the US are planning a $200 million joint quantum fund, possibly in collaboration with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and expansion of the Abraham Accords to follow.

Israel and the US are planning a $200 million joint quantum fund, possibly in collaboration with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to Globes. The fund was proposed by Maj-Gen. (res.) Tamir Hayman, who is now the director at the Institute for National Security Studies. The proposal has been well-received by US lawmakers as well and is gaining momentum. 

The proposed fund will have a budget of $200 million, with $100 million from Israel and the US between 2026 and 2030 to fund collaborative projects. The deal includes potential involvement of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have the energy infrastructure to make large-scale quantum and AI research possible.

According to Globes, the deal’s goal is to counter and limit Chinese global influence, especially in quantum technology. Harnessing Israel’s prowess in quantum and AI technology could further enhance the US’s global influence, according to the Guardian. 

By securing support from the Gulf states, the fund would strengthen the Abraham Accords by drawing the UAE and Saudi Arabia closer to the US-Israel axis through deals bound by promises of quantum and AI innovation.

The deal aligns well with upcoming election timing and complements President Donald Trump's foreign policy history of business deals as a platform for peace, harmony, and stability.