LEAP 2025 Concludes With Announcement Of Expansion Into Asia
The Saudi Arabia-born show has launched LEAP East, an event that will be staged at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 8-10, 2026.
The 2025 edition of LEAP, “the world’s most attended tech event,” has come to a close with the Saudi Arabia-born show announcing its expansion into Asia with LEAP East, which is set to take place in Hong Kong from July 8-10, 2026.
A statement from Tahaluf – the Saudi Arabia-based B2B event organizer that stages LEAP in collaboration with the KSA Ministry for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP) – said that LEAP East can be expected to delve into “the future of technology,” with the event, which shall be staged at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, set to feature over 300 speakers and 300 exhibitors.
Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, said, “With an outstanding speaker line-up and an exhibition floor featuring the latest technological advancements, attendees will gain first-hand insights into the evolving tech landscape. We are building on the success we’ve had in Riyadh, and the figures speak for themselves, as LEAP 2025 had an attendance of over 200,000. LEAP East will foster a dynamic environment where investors, policymakers, and tech leaders converge to shape the future of innovation.”
Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf. Image courtesy LEAP.
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President, Tahaluf, added, “With LEAP East, our focus is on driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of technology on a global scale. The first of LEAP’s strides outside its home base of Saudi Arabia, LEAP East will be an electrifying experience at the forefront of technological transformation.”
Faisal AlKhamisi, Chairman of SAFCSP, said, “LEAP East will serve as a catalyst for growing the global tech ecosystem, and for Saudi Arabia’s status as a global events organizer. With this timely and strategic expansion, we are bringing LEAP’s award-winning vision and world-class innovation into this exciting new Hong Kong venture, creating a powerful platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses to connect, collaborate and build the future of technology. Attendees will engage directly with the world's leading innovators, investors, and industry pioneers, making LEAP East a must-attend event for anyone shaping the digital future.”
LEAP East is thus set to build on the success of LEAP’s four installments in Riyadh, with its 2025 edition running from February 9-12 reportedly witnessing $25 billion in investments and tech launches announced during its four days. The latest edition, which was also the first partially ticketed installment of the event, focused on expanding artificial intelligence (AI) operations, data infrastructure, and talent development. With participation from over 1,800 tech brands, 680 startups, and 1,000 speakers across 15 stages, LEAP 2025 served as a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s focus on AI, gaming, and next-generation infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to diversify its economy and strengthen its digital capabilities.
The first day of LEAP 2025 saw a record-breaking $14.9 billion in new investments in artificial intelligence (AI), a trend that continued on the second and third days, which saw investments of an additional $7.91 billion, reinforcing the Kingdom’s strategy to become a regional technology hub. Here's a snapshot of the biggest announcements made during the course of the event:
AI and Data Infrastructure
On the second day of LEAP, Canadian technology firm DataVolt and Saudi Arabia’s NEOM signed a $5 billion agreement to develop the world’s first fully sustainable AI data center in Oxagon, the floating industrial city under development in the Red Sea. This facility will have a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts and is expected to be a key part of the region’s AI infrastructure.
Additionally, Saudi telecoms company Mobily committed $911 million to digital infrastructure projects, including submarine cable systems and data center expansions, while Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) unveiled a $51 million investment in private fiber-optic networks. In a project that aims to support AI innovation, California-based communications technology company Zoom announced a $75 million plan to build a dedicated data center in Saudi Arabia.
On the third day, Equinix, a California-based data infrastructure company, committed $1 billion to establish the largest data center in the region, contributing to job creation and attracting new industries to the Kingdom.
LEAP’S all-new Tech Arena, a dedicated space for advanced multi-sector technology demonstration. Image courtesy LEAP.
Another focus at the event was developing a skilled workforce in AI and advanced technologies, and several tech companies announced initiatives that will see the training of 60,000 national talents. These initiatives include Microsoft's plan to launch the region’s first data center academy in partnership with the National IT Academy (NITA) to position Saudi Arabia as a data exporter. Meanwhile, the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) completed the second phase of its sandbox initiative and announced the launch of Cohort 3 to support startups in scaling emerging technologies.
Read More: Explainer: What is Saudi Vision 2030?
Other announcements include a strategic partnership between Saudi Etihad Salam Telecom Company (ESTC) and ServiceNow, a California-based AI platform for digital transformation, with Ahmed Al-Anqari, CEO of ESTC, emphasizing the company’s role in advancing the digital economy and contributing to Saudi Vision 2030. “Salam’s presence at LEAP 2025 reinforces our commitment to delivering purposeful solutions that benefit businesses and society, while highlighting our expertise in connectivity and security, with a strong focus on sustainability and SME empowerment,” he said.
Gaming and Digital Content
On the CODE Stage, Mohammed Robayan, Deputy Minister for Technology at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), outlined Saudi Arabia’s gaming sector strategy and the country's plans to leverage the multi-billion dollar global market to create jobs and drive GDP growth at home. He also highlighted Ignite's Gaming Sector Financing Program, which has a budget of SAR 300 million ($80 million) to support small and medium enterprises in the digital content industry.
“As the Kingdom tries to diversify from oil as part of Vision 2030, gaming and esports hold massive potential and are being driven through projects and initiatives such as the Ignite Digital Content Programme, and the Saudi Digital Academy, which has so far trained more than 1,500 people in the field,” said Deputy Minister Robayan.
During the event’s third day, the HGM Fund, which recently established its headquarters in the Kingdom, announced a $300 million fund to develop games in Saudi Arabia for global markets. Louis Gresham, partner – gaming and Esports at HGM, introduced WILCO, the first first-person shooter game developed in Saudi Arabia, confirming its release in October.
LEAP’s new Tech Arena spotlights gamut of future tech solutions and products, including a revolutionary smart contact lens prototype. Image courtesy LEAP.
Innovation and Startup Funding
The event also prioritized funding for startups and innovative solutions, with more than $695 million allocated to startups, AI technologies, and deep tech ventures. The National Technology Development Program (NTDP) launched new accelerators and funds worth $150 million to boost local tech companies. Joa Capital, a Saudi investment firm focusing on infrastructure projects, announced an $80 million infrastructure fund for the construction sector, while the KSA-headquartered firm specializing in investing in applied AI, deep tech ventures, and early-stage technology startups across the MENA region Ula Capital introduced a $75 million fund for applied AI and deep tech ventures.
Also on the third day, Saudi financial services and investment firm Sharaka Financial launched a $30 million fund for MENA startups, and Hong Kong-based firm focusing on accelerating early-stage startups in emerging markets Orbit Startups partnered with the venture capital and private equity investment company Sanabil Investments, a fully owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), for a $60 million accelerator program to support 200 early-stage startups.
Advanced Technology Demonstrations
The newly launched Tech Arena showcased demonstrations across multiple sectors during the second day of the tech event. Dr. Valentyn Volkov, co-founder of the Ukraine-based firm focusing on developing advanced wearable technology XPANCEO, presented smart contact lenses powered by AI-based machine learning, with plans to launch a prototype by late 2026. The lenses will include an ultra-compact projector, biosensors, adaptive prescription lenses, and more — all within a one-millimeter thickness.
