Bahrain Partners with SandboxAQ to Strengthen National Cybersecurity

The National Cybersecurity Centre of the Kingdom of Bahrain has announced a strategic partnership with SandboxAQ, a global leader in AI-driven cybersecurity and encryption management. The collaboration aims to establish a comprehensive national framework to modernize Bahrain’s cybersecurity systems.

This partnership is among the first large-scale global initiatives designed to support the shift towards a secure economy resilient against quantum computing threats. As a founding member of the AI for Post-Quantum Cryptography Centre under the United Nations International Computing Centre, SandboxAQ will assist Bahrain in safeguarding sensitive government and private sector systems, critical infrastructure, and sovereign data against evolving cybersecurity, encryption, and quantum computing risks.

The announcement comes as governments worldwide prepare for “Quantum Day,” the point at which quantum computers may be able to break widely used encryption systems. While estimates suggest this could happen as early as 2029, the threat already exists through “store now, decrypt later” attacks, where encrypted data is stolen today to be decrypted once quantum capabilities mature.

Such threats can affect highly sensitive government data, including classified communications, diplomatic correspondence, defense information, national ID records, and long-term institutional archives.

As part of the partnership, Bahrain will deploy SandboxAQ’s AQtive Guard platform, an advanced AI-driven cybersecurity solution designed for secure, large-scale deployment of AI agents and preparation for the post-quantum era. The platform provides comprehensive cybersecurity oversight, including critical vulnerability assessment and management, particularly addressing encryption weaknesses and the growing use of AI agents and non-human identities.

Implementation will cover more than 60 government entities across Bahrain, requiring high-level cryptographic security management.

Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, CEO of the National Cybersecurity Centre, said:
"Our collaboration with SandboxAQ marks an important step in protecting sovereign data, intellectual property, and other digital assets from internal and external cyber threats. Their advanced technologies and global expertise in AI-driven cybersecurity will strengthen protection for citizens, companies, and government entities, laying a solid foundation for a new era of cybersecurity and sustainable economic growth in Bahrain."

Mohamed Abou El-Magd, Vice President of Cybersecurity Products at SandboxAQ, added:
"Bahrain is confidently securing its digital space by adopting technologies to counter accelerating threats. Our partnership establishes a strategic framework that allows the kingdom to quickly adapt to emerging vulnerabilities while maintaining a leading position against cyber threats. We are honored to support the Bahraini government and Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa in implementing this forward-looking program, which sets a new standard for regional cyber resilience."

This program is a central pillar of Bahrain’s long-term national cybersecurity strategy, reflecting the kingdom’s commitment to protecting national data, enhancing economic resilience, and accelerating safe digital transformation to strengthen competitiveness and sustainable growth.