Saudi Arabia is positioning LEAP 2026 as more than a technology conference. The event is bringing startups, investors, and global technology players together. This comes as the Kingdom builds out its position as a regional technology and investment hub.

The fifth edition of Saudi Arabia’s flagship tech conference will bring more than 1,000 global speakers, 1,900 investors and over 200,000 visitors to Riyadh. 

Why You Should Care

LEAP has grown from a technology-focused event into a major investment platform for Saudi Arabia’s expanding digital economy. This year’s expected participation of 600 startups and 1,900 investors puts capital and emerging technology companies at the center of the event.

That comes as venture capital investment in Saudi Arabia reached USD 1.72 billion, with the Kingdom maintaining its position as the region’s leading market for venture capital for the third consecutive year.

The Details

The fifth edition of LEAP will run from August 31 to September 3, 2026, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham under the theme “Into New Worlds.” The event is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and Tahaluf.

The conference is expected to attract more than 1,000 global speakers, 600 startups and 1,900 investors, alongside more than 200,000 visitors from 180 countries, based on participation figures from previous editions.

Since launching in 2022, LEAP has expanded beyond its original technology focus. The conference now brings together more than 1,800 companies and 1,900 investors, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s broader push to develop an ecosystem that produces and exports technology rather than simply consuming it.

The 2026 agenda will cover artificial intelligence through DeepFest, alongside fintech, healthtech, sports, space, gaming and infrastructure. New platforms including Sports Tech Hub and World Tech Zone will also feature at the event.

The Digital Saudi exhibition will run alongside the conference, featuring more than 20 government digital launches, 30 agreements and 15 dialogue sessions.

The Ripple

LEAP’s growing scale reflects a broader shift in Saudi Arabia’s technology ecosystem. The conference now connects startups and investors with government digital initiatives, sector-specific technology platforms and international markets, expanding its role beyond a traditional technology showcase.

The launch of LEAP East in Hong Kong also gives the conference a new international dimension, linking Saudi Arabia’s growing technology ecosystem with markets and companies across East Asia. This could create new channels for partnerships, investment and technology exchange as the Kingdom continues to build its position as a regional technology hub.

What to Watch

The headline numbers around LEAP 2026 point to a conference increasingly built around capital, commercialization and international connectivity, not just technology showcases.

The key signal will be what comes out of the four-day event: which startups secure investment, which partnerships take shape and whether Saudi Arabia can translate its growing pool of technology capital and infrastructure into companies with reach beyond the Kingdom.