LEAP 2026 gathers 1,900 investors in Malham as a real test for bringing digital twins and artificial intelligence into major facility management
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The fifth edition of the international technology conference LEAP opens at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, north of the Saudi capital, under the theme "Into New Worlds", running from August 31 to September 3. The gathering features more than 1,000 speakers, 1,800 technology companies, 600 startups, and 1,900 investors. It is co-organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and Tahaluf, with support from the Events Investment Fund and Informa.
This edition coincides with the kingdom's Year of Artificial Intelligence and aligns with Vision 2030 tracks aimed at cementing Riyadh's position as a global hub for innovation and the digital economy. The conference tracks cover key sectors including DeepFest, a dedicated platform for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, alongside tracks for finance, healthcare, education, sports, smart cities, space, gaming, and digital infrastructure. Dedicated areas host partnership discussions and deal signings, building on previous editions where the first day of the 2025 event alone saw nearly 15 billion dollars in investment announcements led by the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), Digital Saudi, and the National Housing Company.
In its current edition, the conference shifts from a showcase for prototypes into a platform to assess the operational readiness of intelligent systems in critical national infrastructure.This direction is reflected in the operational presence of major entities, led by the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, which is presenting a suite of digital twin applications, AI-driven systems for crowd management, smart maintenance, asset and energy management, private 5G networks, and an integrated unified operations center, aiming to accelerate knowledge transfer and form technology partnerships serving millions of visitors.
In enabling critical sectors, stc Group is presenting digital solutions, secure infrastructure, and high-performance networks to support digital transformation across government, industrial, and major event sectors, while advancing its strategy to accelerate innovation through targeted investments. In transport and logistics, the multimodal logistics hub concept highlights connections between ports, railways, dry ports, and industrial zones using modern technologies to improve freight flow efficiency. In tourism, presentations showcase 3D island scanning technologies and personalized guest experiences, alongside the Nucleus smart operations center designed to streamline operations, analytics, and maintenance across Red Sea Global projects.
The ecosystem is rounded out by Elm, which is presenting AI-enhanced digital solutions backed by an operational base serving more than 30 million users across 16 sectors and processing over three billion digital transactions annually through 350 electronic services. SAMI Advanced Electronics, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries, is also participating with a focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and smart systems.This focus on large-scale field deployments tests digital solution providers on operational reliability in live environments rather than just software performance.
For digital transformation leaders and technology procurement heads in the Gulf and the wider Arab region, this shift means evaluation criteria no longer stop at isolated software, but now demand direct integration with unified operations centers and private networks to lower actual operating costs. The international expansion of the conference, through initiatives such as LEAP East in Hong Kong to connect Eastern and Western ecosystems, also requires startups and development teams in Egypt and the Levant to build solutions compatible with the requirements of major infrastructure and the supply chains being reshaped by regional institutions.