What OceanQuest does

OceanQuest is a Saudi Arabian not-for-profit foundation, launched in April 2025 and headquartered at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) campus in Thuwal, that exists to accelerate deep ocean exploration and scientific discovery. Its mission centers on mapping and understanding deep-sea ecosystems—particularly seamounts, of which over 80% remain unstudied—through a program of multi-month expeditions, international scientific collaboration, and public ocean literacy initiatives. The foundation was established as a vehicle for Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambition to become a global ocean science leader, and is backed by a SAR 3 billion (~$800M) R&D funding commitment from the Government of Saudi Arabia through 2050.

The foundation's core technology stack includes manned submersibles (HOVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), advanced sensor systems, sonar mapping, AI-assisted mapping, eDNA analysis, and digital twin technologies for ocean simulation. Its primary product is the Around Africa Expedition, a four-month deep-sea mission co-led with OceanX aboard the OceanXplorer vessel, supplemented by the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) training program, the Seamount Deep Dive Webinar Series, and open data sharing with partner nations. The foundation participates in international scientific exchange through MOUs with institutions including GEOMAR, the UK's National Oceanography Centre, South Africa's NRF, Brazil's INPO, Cabo Verde's Ministry of the Sea, and the Seabed 2030 initiative.

OceanQuest operates as a foundation rather than a commercial enterprise: it does not charge for participation in its programs or for access to expedition data, and is funded almost entirely by Saudi government grants and partner contributions. Customer segments are scientific research institutions, national governments seeking ocean science capacity, and early-career ocean professionals, particularly from the Global South. In June 2026, OceanQuest announced it will discontinue operations and be consolidated into KAUST, with the Kingdom's marine science agenda realigned under KAUST's leadership for long-term scientific impact.

Name

OceanQuest

Legal name

Oceanquest

Website

https://oqfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OceanQuest is a Saudi Arabian non-profit foundation, launched in 2025 and based at KAUST, that conducts deep ocean exploration through expeditions, ROVs/AUVs, and digital twin technology while training early-career scientists from 16+ countries. Funded by a SAR 3 billion Saudi government R&D commitment; now consolidating into KAUST.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jeddah

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research and Development Funding: OceanQuest receives funding commitments from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support deep ocean research, innovation, and exploration. The foundation is committed to providing SAR 3 billion in R&D funding by 2050.
2. Partnership Contributions: Collaborative contributions from international partner institutions for joint expeditions, scientific exchange programs, and ocean research initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OceanQuest is a not-for-profit foundation that operates deep ocean exploration programs and joint research expeditions, deploys advanced deep-sea technology (ROVs, AUVs, HOVs, sonar mapping, digital twins, eDNA analysis), and runs capacity-building initiatives such as the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) program and educational webinars. The foundation makes expedition data openly available to partner nations and scientific institutions.

Product overview

OceanQuest is a Saudi Arabian not-for-profit foundation that operates as a unified deep ocean exploration and research platform. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected services centered on accelerating ocean discovery, driving innovation, supporting global cooperation, and engaging the public. Its core offerings include the Around Africa Expedition program (a four-month deep-sea exploration mission), the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) training program, and access to advanced deep ocean technology including research vessels, ROVs, AUVs, and digital twin modeling capabilities. The organization supplements these with educational webinars (Seamount Deep Dive series) and scientific data sharing services. OceanQuest is based at KAUST campus in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Around Africa Expedition A pioneering four-month deep ocean expedition program exploring Africa's coastal waters aboard the research vessel OceanXplorer. The expedition is an endorsed action programme of the UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030) and focuses on deep-sea seamount and ecosystem exploration with high-resolution seafloor mapping, for scientific research institutions and partner nations.
• Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) Program Training and capacity building program for early-career scientists and ocean professionals, with an emphasis on participants from the Global South. Provides hands-on experience in oceanography, eDNA analysis, and science communication through participation in expeditions and workshops.
• Seamount Deep Dive Webinar Series Educational webinar series exploring seamount systems and deep ocean science. Includes episodes on the Around Africa Expedition, Red Sea Rift, and Southwest Atlantic explorations for the public and scientific community.
• Deep Ocean Exploration Technology Access Provision of access to advanced deep ocean exploration technologies including manned submersibles (HOVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and advanced sensors for temperature, pressure, salinity, and dissolved oxygen measurement, available to partner scientific institutions through joint expeditions.
• Digital Twins of Seamounts Real-time virtual models of ocean seamounts integrating data from sensors, robots, and satellites. Used by researchers and conservation planners for scenario analysis and decision-making in deep ocean exploration.
• Research Expedition Services Joint scientific expeditions and survey missions for accelerating deep ocean discovery. Includes biodiversity assessment, seamount studies, chemical analyses, and high-resolution seafloor mapping, available to scientific institutions and partner nations via MOUs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000+ km² of seafloor mapped in high resolution during Around Africa Expedition
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• OceanXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025OceanX is a key strategic partner for joint expeditions and ocean exploration. Operating as an operating program of Dalio Philanthropies, OceanX provides the research vessel OceanXplorer and supports scientists in exploring the ocean through media and technology. The Around Africa Expedition was co-led by OceanQuest and OceanX.
• GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025GEOMAR is a leading German marine research institution that signed an MOU with OceanQuest to support joint missions, scientific exchange, and the development of inclusive ocean research programs.
• National Oceanography Centre (NOC), United KingdommajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025NOC of the United Kingdom signed an MOU to serve as a framework for future joint missions, scientific exchange, and ocean research programs between the institutions.
• National Research Foundation (NRF) of South AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025NRF of South Africa partnered with OceanQuest, including collaboration through SAEON (South African Environmental Observation Network) for the Around Africa Expedition.
• Ministério do Mar, Government of Cabo VerdemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Cabo Verde's Ministry of the Sea signed an MOU to strengthen regional cooperation for sustainable deep ocean exploration and marine conservation.
• Brazilian National Institute for Ocean Research (INPO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025INPO signed an MOU to support joint missions, scientific exchange, and inclusive ocean research programs focused on the South Atlantic region.
• International Seabed 2030 ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025The Seabed 2030 Project aims to map the world's seafloor by 2030. Partnership supports contributing data and expertise to this global initiative.
• Marine Technology Society (MTS)supportingTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2025MTS partnership focuses on enhancing cooperation for developing innovation in marine science and technology.
• Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025POGO collaborated on the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) program, providing hands-on training for early-career ocean professionals during expeditions.
• IMAR (Instituto do Mar)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025IMAR (Instituto do Mar) is OceanQuest's local partner in Cabo Verde for the Around Africa Expedition. Researchers from IMAR joined the expedition to explore the Nola Seamounts near Santo Antão in the Cabo Verde Archipelago.
• Seabed 2030majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeabed 2030 contributes data and expertise to support global efforts for mapping deep ocean floors.
• KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOceanQuest is based at KAUST campus and collaborates on Red Sea research, student training, and marine science initiatives. KAUST researchers participated in the Around Africa Expedition.
• OceanX EducationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOceanX Education provides educational experiences that inspire ocean exploration curiosity.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel: German marine research institute with deep-sea exploration, ROV/AUV operations, and seamount research. Direct scientific overlap with OceanQuest's mission and an active MOU partner, but structured as a government-funded research institute rather than a philanthropic foundation.

Direct peers

• REV Ocean: Norwegian non-profit foundation operating one of the world's largest research vessels (REV Ocean) for ocean science, technology development, and public engagement. Directly comparable in mission, non-profit governance, philanthropic funding, and deep-sea technology focus.
• Schmidt Ocean Institute: Philanthropic foundation established by Eric and Wendy Schmidt operating the research vessel Falkor (too) for global ocean exploration. Highly comparable in mission, funding model (private philanthropy), technology stack (ROVs, AUVs), and open-data sharing approach.
• OceanX: Operating program of Dalio Philanthropies focused on ocean exploration, media, and science. The most direct peer: OceanQuest co-led the Around Africa Expedition with OceanX aboard the OceanXplorer, missions and operating model are practically identical, and Ray Dalio (OceanX founder) sits on OceanQuest's Board of Trustees.
• Nekton Foundation: UK-registered non-profit focused on deep ocean exploration, capacity building, and policy engagement, notably through the Nekton Deep Ocean Survey. Closely comparable mission, non-profit structure, and emphasis on international scientific collaboration.
• Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project: Joint project of The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO aiming to produce a complete map of the world's ocean floor by 2030. OceanQuest is a direct partner and contributor to this initiative, and the seafloor mapping missions are intrinsically aligned.
• Minderoo Foundation (Deep Sea Centre): Australian philanthropic foundation with a dedicated Deep Sea Centre focused on ocean exploration, seafloor mapping, and marine conservation. Comparable as a large-scale, privately funded ocean science initiative with technology and expedition programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography: One of the oldest and largest oceanographic research centres, conducting deep-sea research, seafloor mapping, and marine science. Comparable in scientific domain and exploration technologies, but operates as a broad academic institution rather than a focused philanthropic foundation.
• NOAA Ocean Exploration: U.S. federal programme within NOAA conducting deep-sea exploration, mapping, and characterisation. A substantially larger and longer-established public-sector counterpart covering the same scientific domain, with significantly broader mandate and funding base.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Premier private non-profit oceanographic research and education institution. Operates ROVs (Jason), AUVs (Sentry, REMUS), and human-occupied submersible (Alvin) on deep-sea science. Comparable technology stack and scientific mission, but embedded in a broader academic and operational footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oqfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oqfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/oqfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about OceanQuest