After LEAP 2026 the test of value joins the race to adopt AI in Saudi Arabia
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The question in Saudi organisations is no longer whether they will try AI, but where its impact will appear in daily work. This is the takeaway that emerged from the participation of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and its consulting arm Strategic& in the LEAP 2026 (a technology conference in Riyadh) in Riyadh, where the two firms were the exclusive AI and data partner for the event.
During the conference, the firm published a study titled “AI Maturity in Saudi Arabia is Rising. The Real Test of Value Begins Now”. According to the study, 78% of respondents in Saudi Arabia said they linked their AI vision to business objectives, compared with 65% globally. It also reported that 76% said they have scalable cloud platforms that provide real-time data, and more than half said they have redesigned workflows to embed AI, versus 32% globally.
From Experiment to Operations
These figures alone do not prove that returns are being realized, but they shift the discussion from acquiring tools to using them within data, systems and daily processes. That is the distinction emphasized by Biffic Sharma, chief technology and AI officer at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), when he described the next phase as a practical and secure integration of the technology into enterprise operations and growth.
Conversely, the report draws clear limits to premature celebration: the challenge, the firm says, is no longer the adoption of AI per se, but its application in a way that delivers measurable value, builds trust and prepares for a long-term transformation. Therefore, a cloud platform or a stated vision is insufficient if workflows remain unchanged, or if management cannot link usage to a clear operational outcome.
Partnerships Beyond the Conference Platform
The firms' participation did not stop at presenting the study. They announced expanded cooperation with entities inside the Kingdom, including the Saudi Arabian Information Technology Company (SAYIT), Thiqah (a Saudi data platform), and Jethur (a Saudi AI solutions provider). They signed seven memoranda of understanding focusing on AI adoption, digital transformation, managed services and skill development. The LEAP events also brought together customers, policymakers and technology leaders around the deployment of trusted AI in real-world business environments, the firm said.
The key figure here is not the number of MOUs but what it reveals about the type of demand emerging: organisations seeking to connect technology with execution, and looking for human and operational capabilities that can sustain that link. Faisal Siraj, the firm's senior partner in Saudi Arabia, said that progress in the Kingdom is already reflected in how companies invest, operate and grow, and that the next phase will involve turning this progress into sustainable success for businesses, skills and the economy.
Regional Implication
For a worker or manager in the Gulf, this phase means that the value of a skill does not stop at knowing a new tool. Institutional demand is about the ability to embed AI into systems, data and workflows, and then demonstrate its impact with confidence. For organisations in Saudi Arabia and the region, the benchmark suggested by these data is both simple and demanding: readiness is not measured by the number of pilots, but by what has become scalable and visible within operations.