LEAP 2026 Riyadh Unveils Over $15bn in Tech Deals

Organizers of LEAP 2026, Saudi Arabia's flagship technology conference, announced technology launches, investments and partnerships worth more than USD 15 billion during the event's opening in Riyadh. The fifth edition of the annual international conference is held at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham from 31 August to 3 September 2026.

The new investments focus on artificial intelligence and advanced technologies across the wider AI ecosystem, spanning energy, connectivity, semiconductors, data centers, accelerated computing, AI models, cloud services and sector-specific applications within the Kingdom.

LEAP 2026 was postponed from its originally scheduled April dates to 31 August–3 September 2026 due to regional instability and flight restrictions, while retaining the Malham venue. Organizers project more than 200,000 visitors, around 1,800 global tech brands and roughly 1,900 international investors.

Building on major AI commitments

Major Saudi-focused investments carried into the current cycle include a USD 1.5 billion partnership between Groq and Aramco Digital to expand AI-powered cloud computing and inference infrastructure; a USD 2 billion investment between Saudi-based Alat and Lenovo to establish an advanced AI- and robotics-driven manufacturing and technology hub; and Tencent Cloud allocating USD 150 million for the Middle East's first AI-powered cloud region in the Kingdom.

Cumulatively, technology-related infrastructure investments announced through LEAP events since 2022 exceed USD 42 billion, with LEAP 2025 alone announcing USD 14.9 billion in new AI investments. The 2026 edition adds more than USD 15 billion to that total.

The conference positions 2026 as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence" in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing Riyadh's role as a global hub for technology and capital within the framework of رؤية السعودية 2030. For residents and businesses, the wave of investment signals continued growth in local jobs, digital services and technology infrastructure across the country.

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