Photo Credit: LEAP
Dubai, UAE — Sept. 2026 — Day three of the LEAP 2026 technology conference in Riyadh brought a fresh wave of investment into Saudi Arabia’s tech ecosystem, spanning multi-billion-riyal digital infrastructure projects, new artificial intelligence funds and expansion plans for startups.
LEAP is a global platform showcasing Saudi Arabia’s technology ambitions on the international stage, drawing on the Kingdom’s strategic position spanning three continents. The 2025 edition attracted more than 200,000 attendees, making it the world’s largest emerging-tech event by attendance.
The event covers multiple sectors including health, finance, energy, education, digital entertainment, transportation and smart cities, and brings together leading global tech innovators showcasing the latest case studies and applied experiences from around the world.
Khuzam Digital Valley data center
NHC Innovation unveiled the “Khuzam Digital Valley” data center project, a multi-phase development with total investment of SR3.3 billion ($880 million). The company also announced that NAVER Innovation and BytePlus will be the project’s first anchor clients.
“LEAP brings together the global tech ecosystem at a time when Saudi Arabia is accelerating its ambitions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure,” said Rayan Al-Aql, CEO of NHC Innovation.
He said the Khuzam Digital Valley project, along with NAVER Innovation and BytePlus joining as anchor clients, reflects the company’s role in the Kingdom’s next phase of digital growth, building the digital foundations needed to meet rising demand for advanced technologies and creating an environment that brings together global tech partners, companies and innovators.
He added that announcing this progress at LEAP underscores the company’s ambition and commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s digital economy.
AWS to launch first Saudi cloud region
The scale of global tech investment in the Kingdom was also underscored by Amazon Web Services, which is preparing to launch its first cloud region in Saudi Arabia in December, backed by investments exceeding $5.3 billion.
Mobility sector draws investor attention
Beyond digital infrastructure, mobility emerged as one of the most promising sectors for future tech investment. A panel titled “Investing in the Future of Mobility” brought together Mercedes Cyprian, CEO and founder of Parkron; Dong-Su Kim, CEO of LG Technology Ventures; and Ahmed Mehairi, CEO of Free2Move.
The panelists discussed how investment opportunities in the sector now extend well beyond electric vehicles to include autonomous driving technology, connected infrastructure and smart logistics solutions.
Speakers also pointed to growing investor interest in technologies that address operational challenges and offer clear paths to commercial growth, and stressed the importance of closer collaboration between investors, tech companies, operators and the public sector to scale these solutions more broadly.
New AI capital and partnerships
Interest in emerging technologies was also reflected in new capital announced during the day. Foras AI, a platform focused on artificial intelligence investment in the Middle East and North Africa, announced a $20 million investment and M&A initiative aimed at backing and acquiring regional AI companies, adding a new funding source for AI startups operating in Saudi Arabia.
Separately, the Digital Government Authority and STV announced a strategic partnership to accelerate innovation in digital government services and AI.
Under the agreement, STV will contribute technical expertise, identify and support startups, and evaluate investment opportunities through its dedicated fund for AI and emerging technologies, while the DGA will support participating companies through government use cases, a sandbox innovation environment, procurement opportunities, and regulatory and funding pathways.
Building a homegrown gaming industry
Discussions at the conference also looked at investment in the Saudi tech ecosystem beyond capital alone. In the gaming sector, conversations centered on the long-term foundations needed to build an internationally competitive industry.
In a session titled “The Saudi Studio Playbook: Building a Global Games Industry From Scratch,” Yannick Theiler, CEO of Steer Studios, highlighted the importance of investing in talent and building local skills and capabilities as critical factors for sustainable growth, stressing the need to adapt international experience to fit the realities of the local market.
International expansion into the Kingdom
The day also brought further signs of international companies investing to expand their presence in Saudi Arabia. Dubai-based digital hospitality platform estaie announced a $5.2 million seed funding round to accelerate its expansion into the Kingdom.
The company uses AI for pricing, inventory management and the booking experience, serving the flexible accommodation market that includes hotels, serviced apartments and residential rentals.
LEAP’s role
“LEAP has always been a platform where ambition turns into real commitment,” said Annabel Mander, Executive Vice President at Tahaluf and Co-Founder Partner of LEAP. “What we saw on day three reflects investments taking shape across every level of Saudi Arabia’s tech ecosystem, from major investments in digital infrastructure and AI, to the growth of startups and new global partnerships.”
