RIYADH — LEAP 2026, one of the world’s largest international technology summits, officially kicked off in Riyadh on August 31. Saudi authorities announced a landmark investment of over 15 billion US dollars to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and smart healthcare.
Running from August 31 to September 3 under the theme “Into New Worlds”, the fifth edition of the LEAP summit gathers global tech giants, institutional investors, and innovation teams, marking the Middle East’s full-scale shift from an oil-based economy to an AI-driven digital economy.
The massive investment focuses on four high-growth tech sectors: general artificial intelligence industrial ecosystems, hyperscale cloud computing infrastructure, national cybersecurity upgrades, and AI-powered smart public services including healthcare.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology stated that the Kingdom is building a regional AI innovation hub through large-scale capital investment and global tech cooperation, aiming to position Riyadh as a core digital and technological hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.
Industry analysts pointed out that the historic investment represents a structural economic transformation across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is systematically reducing reliance on traditional energy sectors and building independent, self-replicating AI industrial chains to secure long-term economic growth.
The LEAP 2026 summit will accelerate global technology cooperation and make the Middle East a key incremental market for global AI commercialization and cross-border tech investment in the next two years.