Investments exceeding $15 billion at LEAP 2026: building the full AI value chain from energy to models
The fifth edition of the “LEAP 2026” technology conference launched in Riyadh under the theme “Towards New Worlds”, announcing a package of launches, investments and major technology partnerships whose total value exceeds $15 billion in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. These figures reflect a qualitative shift in the management of technology investments, moving beyond importing ready-made applications to establishing leadership in digital infrastructure and advanced computing to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global destination for technology investment in the smart era.
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Sawaha said in his opening remarks that these launches and investments were achieved thanks to the support and empowerment of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Al-Sawaha affirmed that the Kingdom is steadily advancing toward leading the age of artificial intelligence in partnership with major companies, innovators and investors worldwide, pointing to the delivery of a global model that turns technical commitments and aspirations into tangible achievements based on flexibility, reliability and rapid execution, driven by young national talent.
An integrated value chain from energy and semiconductors to cloud models and specialized applications
The announced investment flows contribute to developing a comprehensive artificial-intelligence system covering eight main layers: energy, network connectivity, semiconductors, data centers, accelerated computing, AI models, cloud services, and sector-specific applications. This structural integration aims to support the growth of the digital economy and enhance its global competitiveness by owning the vital operating components locally rather than relying solely on end-user interface layers.
The conference is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in cooperation with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones and the company “Alliance”, a joint project between the federation, the global firm “Informa” and the Investment Events Fund. The event runs until September 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, featuring more than 1,000 speakers, 1,900 investors, 1,800 global technology brands and 600 startups across 16 platforms and over 20 specialized tracks showcasing the future of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, smart cities, fintech, healthcare, space, gaming and mobility.
What does this investment scale mean for those building or managing technology in the region?
Injecting more than $15 billion into infrastructure and accelerated computing reshapes the working reality for technology teams and decision-makers in the Gulf, Egypt and the Levant. The presence of computing capacity, data centers and local semiconductor supply chains reduces reliance on distant cloud regions and lowers latency in processing massive data sets, while also prompting technology executives to review hosting strategies and procurement contracts to leverage the new regional computing capacities. At the same time, this integrated system creates a direct demand for infrastructure engineering skills, high-density data-center management and improved energy efficiency in training and operating models, raising the efficiency bar for developers and engineers in surrounding job markets.
This edition demonstrates that the AI race in the region is moving in practice from a stage of announcing intentions to a stage of anchoring capital assets on the ground, where abundant energy meets computing capacity to build a digital architecture capable of serving the smart-economy requirements for decades to come.