By Abdulaziz Khattak
LEAP 2026 achieved unprecedented global technology and investment momentum, securing nearly $15 billion in agreements that fundamentally accelerate Saudi Arabia’s digital economy and reinforce the broader GCC region’s standing as a premier global hub for artificial intelligence and advanced digital infrastructure.
The fifth edition of the event, held from August 31 to September 3, 2026, spanned crucial sectors including artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, data centres, cloud computing, technology manufacturing, and venture capital.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology alongside partner entities, establishing global technology and investment momentum that strengthened the Kingdom’s position as a leading digital economy centre.
Into New Worlds ... LEAP 2026
Major infrastructure developments included Al Moammar Information Systems announcing a $1.2 billion investment to expand data centres and increase capacity to 192 megawatts (MW), and NHC Innovation announcing an $800 million investment to develop Khuzam Digital Valley with capacity expandable to 65 MW by 2033.
Cloud computing expansions featured Amazon Web Services announcing the launch of its first cloud region in the Kingdom in December 2026 as part of an investment exceeding $5.3 billion, alongside the Microsoft Azure cloud region becoming available in November 2026.
Amazon Web Services also expanded its partnership with HUMAIN to provide up to 50 MW of capacity within the first AI zone by 2028, making the ALLAM Arabic-language model available through Amazon Bedrock.
Adobe announced a commitment worth more than $4 billion as part of an expanded partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and HUMAIN to provide over 27 million eligible residents and citizens with Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features free for 12 months.
Venture capital investments on the third day alone totaled nearly $293 million across 11 deals, comprising nine investment rounds valued at $126.15 million and fund activities valued at $166.7 million.
LEAP strengthened the Kingdom’s position as a digital economy hub
Ula Capital launched a $100 million fund in partnership with Korea’s FuturePlay, while Impact46 and Hala expanded their small and medium-sized enterprise funding vehicle from $26.7 million to $66.7 million.
Alfanar announced a $150 million investment to manufacture data centre components locally within the Kingdom to strengthen national infrastructure and increase local content in advanced technology industries.
Saudi Energy signed three strategic agreements as a strategic sponsor, including National Grid SA and HUMAIN providing electricity for the artificial intelligence data centres project in Riyadh, while the Saudi Electricity Project Development Company established partnerships with center3 and Huawei.
Comprehensive conference sessions examined financial technology, digital financial services, financial inclusion, digital payments, embedded finance, biometrics, and the role of modern technologies in developing business models and driving digital economy growth.
Amin Nasser, Saudi Aramco President and CEO, highlighted during the conference opening that Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in developing its information and communications technology sector, noting that LEAP serves as an important platform for envisioning the future.
The sixth edition of LEAP is officially scheduled to take place from April 12 to 15, 2027, to continue building global partnerships, attracting investment, enabling innovation and talent, and strengthening the Kingdom’s leading position in the smart age.