How LEAP 2025 is Driving AI Investment Across Saudi Arabia
LEAP - a leading international technology conference - has arrived at the Riyadh International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham for 2025.
The event serves as a platform for showcasing AI advancements, cutting-edge investments, digital transformation and emerging technologies across industries.
Since it debuted in 2022, the event has supported over $42.4bn in tech-related investments.
Not only does this align with Saudi Vision 2030, which strives to turn the Kingdom into a global innovation and tech hub, but it also secures Saudi Arabia’s position as a trailblazer in digital transformation.
His Excellency Eng Abdullah Alswaha, the Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), delivered a keynote address to open LEAP 2025: “LEAP 2025 is a defining moment because when the Kingdom works, the region works, and the whole world works,”
“LEAP has evolved from a movement to a multiplier effect – but now is our defining moment. Technology has catalysed Saudi Arabia as the biggest success story in youth and female empowerment in the 21st Century, and we are laser-focused on continuing that success story.
“The intelligence age is here and, in partnership with you, we are going to take that leap together.”
Investment surges significantly
Saudi Arabia is rising as an international AI and technology leader, driven by significant investments in AI, emerging technologies and digital infrastructure - LEAP 2025 has attracted $14.9bn in new AI funding already.
This investment has been concentrated on several areas, such as:
AI and Cloud computing:
- Groq and Aramco Digital has announced a US$1.5bn plan to expand AI-powered inference infrastructure and cloud computing
- Lenovo and ALAR commits US$2bn to create an advanced technology and manufacturing centre integrating robotics and AI
- Google introduced new AI-driven digital infrastructure and launches a computing cluster to meet both regional and global needs
- Qualcomm confirms the availability of its ALLAM language model on Qualcomm AI Cloud
- Alibaba Cloud launches the AI Enablement programme (with collaboration with STC Academy and Tuwaiq academy to train national talent)
- SambaNova commits US$140m to craft advanced AI infrastructure
Data centres & digital infrastructure
- KKR has partner with Gulf Data Hub to invest in the development of data centres (up to 300 megawatts total capacity)
Manufacturing & robotics
- Lenovo and ALAT invest $2bn to integrate AI into manufacturing to enhance industrial efficiency and automation
These significant tech invesments will diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy beyond oil to support innovation, job creation and a knowledge-based economy.
Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, states: “The massive volume of new investments announced on day one builds on the progress made at LEAP and across the Kingdom in previous years, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s undisputed status as the primary digital accelerator in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Quantum computing
Arvind Krishna, Chairman & CEO of IBM, took to the stage to predict quantum computing breakthroughs are “three to five years away”, for significant impacts for pharmaceuticals, energy and AI.
Quantum computing emerges as a prominent topic of discussion, exploring how this will solve problems rapidly to drive efficiency and innovation.
This prediction by Arvin comes eleven months after IBM announced plans to invest US$250bn into an international global software development centre in the Kingdom
Arvind Krishna, Chairman & CEO of IBM, explains: “A breakthrough I think is only about three-to-five years in the future is quantum computing – I think we will see something amazing,”
He continues to explain: “We’re very excited to already be working on it with some partners in the Kingdom, but I believe quantum computing will open up areas that, for the Kingdom, will be very exciting. It will all be about materials, energy, oil and gas, possibly pharmaceuticals – all areas that are critical to the Kingdom and very much part of Vision 2030.”
- Engine VR’s Golden Gloves VR
- Adobe’s Project Primrose
- Databricks’ US$300m in integrated PaaS solutions
What does the event mean for the future of tech and AI in the kingdom?
LEAP 2025 is catalyse Saudi Arabia’s transformation into an international technology and AI leader, fostering innovation across industries and attracting plenty of investment.
Saudi Arabia is enhancing its AI capabilities and digital transformation by hosting global tech giants like IBM, Google and Qualcomm.
By focusing on cutting-edge research and emerging technologies, LEAP is crafting a skilled workforce and long-term sustainability.
As the world navigates technological advancements, LEAP is helping Saudi Arabia become a hub for innovation, AI and next-generation digital ecosystems.
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