Bahrain and AI Firm Sign Billion-Dollar Deal to Accelerate Drug Discovery

Bahrain’s state investment arm has entered into a strategic partnership with U.S.-based AI and quantum technology company to fast-track drug development and build a biotech ecosystem valued at around $1 billion.

The agreement places Bahrain as a regional hub for pharmaceutical innovation, licensing advanced quantitative AI models that integrate physics, chemistry and biology to design novel therapies. A joint research committee will guide a three-year programme, leveraging Bahrain’s digital health infrastructure and hospital network to support clinical trials locally.

The initiative marks a shift toward home-grown biotech intellectual property in a region traditionally dependent on external R&D. It also reflects growing interest in the Gulf in forging AI-driven alliances in life sciences.