Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 2025
A memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year at the Quantum Innovation Summit in Dubai has since become one of the UAE’s most powerful examples of how vision, education, and innovation can shape the global future. The agreement between the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy (ADMA), the region’s leading academic institution for mariners and an integral part of AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a global facilitator of trade, logistics, and industry, and Vernewell Group, an innovation powerhouse specialising in quantum strategy, technology acceleration, and deep-tech commercialisation, laid the foundation for a bold strategic endeavour to integrate quantum technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) into the global maritime sector.
Formalised in February 2025 during the Quantum Innovation Summit, the memorandum represented a declaration of purpose designed to bridge research and industry and to transform scientific potential into operational progress. The partnership outlined a roadmap built on four pillars: developing strategic quantum advisory frameworks to guide maritime transformation, launching joint research and pilot projects to apply quantum and AI solutions to logistics and cybersecurity, creating training and capacity-building programmes to cultivate quantum literacy in the maritime workforce, and establishing a global platform that would connect science, policy, and industry under one shared vision.
By October 2025, this roadmap had reached its first major milestone. The Quantum Maritime Conference 2025, hosted at the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy’s newly inaugurated campus, marked a defining moment for both institutions and for the UAE’s position as a leader in the next generation of maritime innovation. Held with the strategic support and sponsorship of AD Ports Group and organised and curated by Vernewell Group, the event brought to life the partnership’s vision through a comprehensive programme that extended beyond dialogue to measurable outcomes.
In addition to hosting the world’s first international forum dedicated to the convergence of quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and maritime strategy, the conference introduced the Quantum Maritime Industry Challenge 2025 and the Research-to-Impact Competition 2025. These platforms were designed to turn ideas into application, linking academia, startups, and industry in the development of quantum-driven solutions for navigation, logistics, emissions management, and maritime sustainability. Together, they represented the practical side of the conference’s mission to create a living ecosystem of research, innovation, and enterprise that would continue long after the event concluded.
Over two days, the conference gathered forty speakers and a wide delegation of experts, policymakers, and innovators from thirty nations. The event demonstrated Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a nexus for global thought leadership and technological advancement. Among the distinguished guests were H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, who delivered a keynote on quantum resilience and national digital sovereignty, and Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov, co-discoverer of graphene, who reflected on the intersection of scientific discovery, materials research, and industrial transformation.
The opening remarks by Dr. Yasser Al Wahedi, President of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, and Malak Trabelsi Loeb, Founder and CEO of Vernewell Group, captured the deeper essence of the event. Their words reflected the UAE’s national vision of progress through knowledge, innovation, and leadership, and highlighted Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a global centre for science, technology, and maritime excellence. They spoke of education, research, and sustainability as the fundamental pillars of development, and of quantum technologies and artificial intelligence as transformative forces that can redefine how industries operate, communicate, and grow. Quantum technologies and artificial intelligence enable nations to adapt to rapid change while maintaining their position at the forefront of global innovation.
For both leaders, the conference represented the realisation of a philosophy that defines the UAE: that innovation guided by vision and grounded in education is the path to enduring progress. The Quantum Maritime Conference 2025, they affirmed, reflected the nation’s commitment to turning knowledge into capability, capability into competitiveness, and competitiveness into shared prosperity.
The outcomes of the conference carried lasting significance. The most important milestone was the launch of the Quantum and AI Blue Initiative (QAIBI), a joint framework developed by ADMA, AD Ports Group, and Vernewell Group. QAIBI connects education, research, and enterprise to accelerate innovation in quantum communication, optimisation, sensing, cybersecurity, and sustainable maritime operations. It will serve as a foundation for collaborative projects, research partnerships, and talent development programmes that extend beyond national borders, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s status as the global hub for quantum-enabled maritime development.
Two pioneering demonstrations showcasing practical applications took place during the Quantum Maritime Conference 2025. ID Quantique presented a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network designed to secure ship-to-shore and port communications, while QuantumGate revealed a quantum communication prototype that enhances operational accuracy and network integrity. These demos signalled the need to drive efficiency and security across the maritime ecosystem.
For Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, this partnership and the success of the conference reaffirmed its mission to be the region’s driving force in maritime education, research, and digital transformation. Under Dr. Yasser Al Wahedi’s leadership, the Academy continues to evolve from a maritime training institution into a centre of scientific and strategic excellence, preparing professionals to lead the sector through rapid technological change. As part of AD Ports Group, ADMA embodies the Group’s broader commitment to advancing global trade through innovation, sustainability, and world-class education.
For Vernewell Group, the collaboration represents a continuation of its long-standing mission to transform quantum science into applied impact. Since 2020, the company has been pioneering quantum adoption through its Quantum Adoption Program under the QInnovision Consortium, bridging research, investment, and industrial deployment. The creation of VerneX Quantum Valley, at the DIFC Innovation Hub, reinforces Vernewell’s commitment to deep-tech commercialisation and ecosystem development.
The journey from the signing of the MoU in Dubai to the closing session in Abu Dhabi reflects the UAE’s unique model of progress: a nation where foresight meets execution and where innovation is embedded in long-term vision. This trajectory aligns with the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who has placed innovation, education, and sustainability at the core of national growth, and with the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, whose inauguration of the new Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy campus stands as a testament to the UAE’s commitment to knowledge and technology as instruments of prosperity.
As the Quantum Maritime Conference 2025 concluded, it became clear that this milestone is only the beginning. The launch of QAIBI, the Quantum Maritime Industry Challenge 2025, and the Research-to-Impact Competition 2025 mark the start of a long-term transformation that will continue to expand through research, education, and enterprise. This ongoing journey will strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as the capital of maritime innovation.
From a memorandum signed in Dubai to the establishment of a fully realised innovation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, this story embodies the UAE’s vision: to imagine boldly, to collaborate meaningfully, and to lead decisively. The journey that began at the Quantum Innovation Summit and reached its first milestone through the Quantum Maritime Conference 2025 now continues under the UAE’s broader vision for innovation and sustainability. As Abu Dhabi advances the work of QAIBI, the Quantum Maritime Industry Challenge, and the Research-to-Impact Competition, the nation reinforces its standing as a centre for scientific excellence and strategic leadership. This is the foundation upon which future industries will be built: intelligent, secure, and connected through the power of innovation.
About Vernewell Group
Vernewell Group is a global holding company managing a portfolio of ventures shaping the future of quantum technology, artificial intelligence, space, and deep tech. The Group steers and supports its UAE-based companies dedicated to advancing innovation and accelerating the adoption of transformative technologies across the region.
These companies and platforms are led by Vernewell Management Consultancies LLC, which oversees strategic initiatives and platforms like the Quantum Innovation Summit, the QInnovision Consortium, and Quantum Universum Magazine. Vernewell Academy is a subsidiary focusing on education and capacity building. At the centre of this portfolio is the VerneX Quantum Hub at DIFC, a collaborative platform connecting enterprises, researchers, and investors to pilot and scale quantum solutions across sectors. By promoting cooperation and supporting applied innovation, VerneX Quantum Hub contributes to the advancement of the UAE’s technological ecosystem and the practical integration of quantum technologies.
Through its flagship platform, the Quantum Innovation Summit, Vernewell Group has mobilised high-level engagement and initiated pilot collaborations that laid the groundwork for the Quantum Maritime Conference 2025. The Summit demonstrated Vernewell Group’s capacity to translate vision into sector-specific outcomes, paving the way for the focused maritime initiative developed with AD Ports Group and the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, both of which play central roles in advancing the UAE’s maritime innovation ecosystem.
As organiser of the Quantum Maritime Conference 2025, Vernewell Group brings this ecosystem into action to amplify the contributions of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy and AD Ports Group, positioning Abu Dhabi and the UAE as leaders in maritime resilience, technological innovation, and the adoption of frontier technologies.
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Website: www.quantummaritimeconference.com
