RIYADH. LEAP 2025, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s premier global tech event, officially launched in Riyadh on Sunday. The event has brought together global technology and innovation leaders, reinforcing Saudi Arabia‘s position as a primary hub for digital transformation and an attractive destination for tech investments.
On the first day of the event, investments and projects worth over $14.9 billion in the artificial intelligence sector were announced, solidifying the Kingdom’s role as a key global player in shaping the digital future. These investments are designed to empower digital skills development, foster the growth of tech startups, and enhance innovation in Saudi Arabia. They further establish the Kingdom as a hub for technology and innovation, positioning it as an attractive environment for leading global technology companies and reinforcing its status as the largest digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Major Investments Announced
- Groq & Aramco Digital: A $1.5 billion investment to expand AI-powered cloud computing, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in artificial intelligence.
- Alat & Lenovo: A $2 billion investment to establish an advanced AI and robotics-based manufacturing and technology center in Saudi Arabia and to open Lenovo’s regional headquarters in Riyadh.
- Google: Plans to launch a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia to meet regional and international demand through an AI infrastructure investment.
- Qualcomm: Introduction of the ALLaM language model on the Qualcomm AI Cloud, alongside the ALLaM AI PC, advancing cloud-based AI solutions.
- Alibaba Cloud: An AI empowerment program in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy and STC to train local talent and support a sustainable digital future.
- Databricks: A commitment of $300 million in Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions to foster data engineering and AI expertise.
- SambaNova: A $140 million pledge to enhance advanced AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
- KKR & Gulf Data Hub: A major investment in Saudi Arabia’s data center development with a capacity of up to 300 megawatts.
- Salesforce: A $500 million commitment to expand its Hyperforce platform in Saudi Arabia.
- Tencent Cloud: A $150 million investment to establish its first cloud region in the Middle East, launching integrated AI capabilities from Saudi Arabia.
Vision 2030 and Crown Prince’s Support
The announcement was made during the keynote address by Abdullah Alswaha, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology. Alswaha emphasized that these significant investments and initiatives were made possible through the support and empowerment of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. These initiatives aim to enable the technology sector and accelerate Saudi Arabia’s transition toward an innovative and sustainable AI-driven economy, in line with Vision 2030 objectives.
Event Details
LEAP 2025 is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), and Tahaluf Company—a joint venture between SAFCSP and Informa PLC, supported by the Events Investment Fund. The event, which runs until Wednesday, kicked off under the theme “Into New Worlds”.
LEAP 2025 underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to leading the global AI sector, attracting top-tier technology investments, and cementing its position as a hub for digital transformation and technological innovation.