Riyadh is about to become a very busy place for technology. One major reason is the upcoming LEAP 2026 Riyadh event, which will attract global attention.
LEAP 2026 opens on August 31, bringing artificial intelligence, startups, investors and global technology companies together in Saudi Arabia. The four-day conference runs through September 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham.
This year’s theme is “Into New Worlds.” AI sits near the center of that idea. Saudi Arabia is using LEAP to show where its digital economy is heading next. The timing also matters. The event arrives during the Kingdom’s Year of Artificial Intelligence.
More Than 1,000 Speakers Are Heading to Riyadh
LEAP has grown far beyond a regional technology conference. More than 1,000 speakers are expected at this year’s edition. Around 1,800 technology companies will also participate. The event will bring together 600 startups and about 1,900 investors. That mix gives LEAP a strong commercial side. Startups can meet capital while larger companies look for partnerships and new markets.
AI Gets a Bigger Role at LEAP 2026
Artificial intelligence will run through much of the conference program. LEAP will cover AI alongside other advanced technologies and emerging digital systems. DeepFest will also return as part of the event. The wider agenda reaches into finance, healthcare, education and sports. Smart cities, gaming, space and digital infrastructure will get dedicated attention too. That makes AI less of a standalone topic and more of a technology connecting several industries.
Saudi Arabia Is Using LEAP to Support Vision 2030
LEAP also fits into Saudi Arabia’s broader economic strategy. The Kingdom wants technology and AI to play larger roles in its future economy. Vision 2030 has pushed investment into digital services, innovation and technology infrastructure. LEAP gives Saudi Arabia a global stage for that work. It also provides a place to announce partnerships, investments and new technology initiatives.
The Year of Artificial Intelligence Gives This LEAP a Different Feel
LEAP 2026 arrives during Saudi Arabia’s Year of Artificial Intelligence. That gives this edition an obvious AI angle. The Kingdom has been expanding its ambitions around AI development and digital transformation. The conference gives companies a chance to demonstrate how those ambitions translate into working technology. It also puts investors close to projects that could shape the next phase of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy.
Smart Technology Is Coming to the Holy Mosques
Some of the most interesting technology at LEAP won’t be aimed at conventional businesses. The authority responsible for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque will showcase smart systems at the event. Its technologies include digital twin applications and AI-powered operational tools. Solutions for crowd management and smart maintenance will also be featured. Energy management, private 5G networks and integrated operations are part of the showcase as well.
AI Could Help Manage Services for Millions of Visitors
The Holy Mosques create a very different technology challenge. Their systems must support enormous numbers of visitors while keeping operations efficient. AI and digital twins could help teams monitor facilities and anticipate problems. Smart systems may also improve maintenance and crowd management. The authority plans to use LEAP to explore partnerships and test new technologies. Knowledge transfer is another goal.
Saudi Telecom Giant stc Will Showcase Digital Infrastructure
stc Group is also joining LEAP 2026. The Saudi telecommunications company will present digital solutions and secure infrastructure. High-performance networks will form another part of its showcase. Those technologies support Saudi Arabia’s public sector and major industries. They also provide some of the infrastructure needed for larger AI deployments. stc executives will participate in discussions about technology and future investment.
Tourism Technology Is Getting Smarter Too
Saudi Arabia’s tourism expansion will have its own technology angle at LEAP. Exhibits will include 3D island mapping and personalized guest experiences. Red Sea Global will also feature its Nucleus Intelligent Operations Center. The platform is designed to improve analytics, maintenance and daily operations across its properties. These tools show how AI is moving into the background of tourism operations. Guests may not always see the technology, but they can experience the results.
AI Is Moving Deeper Into Saudi Government Services
Saudi digital solutions company Elm will bring its AI-powered technologies to the conference. The company works across government and business sectors. It serves more than 30 million users in 16 sectors. Its systems process over 3 billion digital transactions each year. Elm also operates more than 350 electronic services. That scale makes its LEAP presence particularly relevant to Saudi Arabia’s push toward AI-enabled government services.
Defence Technology and Cybersecurity Will Be on Display
Sami Advanced Electronics will also participate. The company is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries. Its LEAP showcase will cover smart technologies and artificial intelligence. Cybersecurity and business solutions will feature as well. The presence of defence companies widens LEAP’s scope beyond consumer and enterprise technology. AI is increasingly becoming part of national infrastructure and security strategies too.
Logistics Gets Its Own Connected Technology Showcase
Saudi Arabia’s logistics ambitions will also appear on the exhibition floor. An Intermodal Mega Hub concept will demonstrate how technology can connect transport networks. Ports, railways and dry ports can operate as parts of a larger digital system. Industrial zones can connect to that network too. Better data sharing could improve efficiency and cargo movement. It may also increase capacity across major logistics corridors.
LEAP Has Become a Serious Investment Stage
The money surrounding LEAP has become difficult to ignore. Nearly $15 billion in technology investments were announced on the opening day of LEAP 2025. Those announcements involved major Saudi organizations and technology initiatives. That history puts additional attention on the 2026 edition. Investors will be watching for another round of large deals, especially around AI and digital infrastructure.
LEAP Is Expanding Beyond Saudi Arabia
LEAP’s ambitions now extend outside Riyadh. The conference has expanded internationally through LEAP East in Hong Kong. That event aims to connect technology and AI ecosystems across Eastern and Western markets. The expansion also shows how Saudi Arabia wants LEAP to develop as a global technology brand. Riyadh remains its flagship event, but the platform is no longer confined to the Kingdom.
LEAP 2026 Is About More Than Another AI Conference
There will be plenty of AI talk in Riyadh. That’s unavoidable in 2026.
The more interesting question is what gets built after the conference ends. LEAP brings startups, investors, government agencies and global technology companies into the same space. Saudi Arabia can use that mix to turn announcements into projects.
This year’s event also comes with unusually strong AI momentum. The Kingdom is investing in digital infrastructure while pushing Vision 2030 forward. At the same time, AI is entering tourism, government services, telecommunications and infrastructure.
LEAP 2026 gives those developments one very large stage.
And if last year’s investment numbers are any indication, some of the biggest stories from Riyadh may involve deals that have not been announced yet.
Sources
- Arab News Japan — LEAP conference puts AI, emerging technologies in spotlight
https://www.arabnews.jp/en/saudi-arabia/article_176916/ - LEAP — Official Event Website
https://onegiantleap.com/
