Riyadh today opens a new chapter in the journey of the "LEAP 2026" conference , with the launch of the fifth edition of the global technology conference, which has transformed in a few years from an event specializing in the technology sector into an international platform that brings together major technology companies, investors, innovators and entrepreneurs, and links investment opportunities with the latest innovations that shape the features of the digital economy.
The fifth edition of the «LEAP 2026» conference will be held from August 31 to September 3, 2026 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, under the slogan «Towards New Worlds», organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and the "Tahaluf" company.
The new edition comes after the value of launches, investments and projects announced during the previous four editions in Riyadh exceeded $44.2 billion, cementing Leap's position as one of the most prominent platforms that attracts global capital and technology companies to the Kingdom.
LEAP 2026 brings together more than 1,000 global speakers and experts, more than 1,800 technology companies, along with more than 600 startups, and more than 1,900 investors and representatives of venture capital funds, in a program that spans a wide range of technology and economic sectors.
From a tech conference to a global movement
Since its inaugural edition in 2022, LEAP has experienced steady growth in terms of attendance, investment volume, and international participation. The first edition attracted over 100,000 visitors, with more than 500 speakers, 700 exhibitors, 403 startups, and over 330 investors.
That edition saw the announcement of launches and investments worth $6.4 billion, an early indication of the conference's ability to bring together global investors and companies with innovators and entrepreneurs, and to transform technical ideas into viable projects and opportunities for growth.
In 2023, the scope of participation in the second edition expanded, with the number of visitors exceeding 172,000, an increase of more than 70% compared to the first edition, while the number of speakers rose to more than 700 speakers, exhibitors to 900 entities, and startups to 500 companies, in addition to more than 1,026 investors.
The value of announced launches and investments also jumped to $9.5 billion, an increase of nearly 48% over the previous year, reinforcing Leap's role as a link between capital, technology companies, startups, and global markets.
2024: A leap in attendance and investments
Leap continued its growth in its third edition in 2024, after receiving more than 215,000 visitors, an increase of 251,000 compared to the previous edition, while the number of speakers exceeded 1,100 speakers, and the exhibiting entities exceeded 1,800 entities, in addition to more than 600 startups and 1,600 investors.
The value of launches and announced investments during that edition reached $13.4 billion, a growth of approximately 41% compared to 2023, and more than double the value recorded in the first edition.
Thus, the total value of launches and investments announced during the first three editions reached $29.3 billion, at a time when the scope of topics discussed at the conference expanded to include artificial intelligence, cloud computing, smart cities, financial technology, health, education, space and electronic games.
$14.9 billion in the fourth edition
In 2025, LEAP continued its growth trajectory with its fourth edition, which attracted more than 200,000 visitors, with the participation of more than 1,000 speakers, 1,800 exhibitors and more than 680 startups, within a program that brought together technology leaders, experts, investors and decision-makers.
The fourth edition witnessed the announcement of investments and projects worth $14.9 billion, mainly focused on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data centers and advanced technical infrastructure.
A number of the world’s largest technology companies participated in those investments, including Lenovo, Google, Qualcomm, Salesforce, Tencent Cloud, DataBricks and Sampanova.
With the addition of the results of the fourth edition, the total value of launches and announced investments across the four editions rose to more than $44.2 billion, while the value of annual advertising increased from $6.4 billion in 2022 to $14.9 billion in 2025, a growth of approximately 133%.
Lib's figures reveal the platform's expansion
The growth of LEAP was not limited to the value of investments, but extended to the size of participation and the components of the ecosystem that the conference brings together. The number of exhibitors increased from more than 700 in the first edition to more than 1,800 in the third and fourth editions.
The number of speakers has also nearly doubled, from more than 500 speakers in 2022 to more than 1,000 speakers, while the number of startups has increased from more than 403 companies in the first edition to more than 680 companies in the 2025 edition.
On the investment side, the number of investors increased from more than 330 investors in the first edition to 1,600 investors in the third edition, reflecting the expanding role that «LEAP» plays in connecting startups with sources of funding, expertise and global markets.
"Libya" transcends the boundaries of Riyadh
The expansion of LEAP did not stop at the growth of the Riyadh-hosted editions, as the conference entered a new phase in July 2026 with the launch of LEAP East in Hong Kong, the first international extension of the movement since its launch in the Kingdom.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre hosted the first edition of «LEAP East» from July 8 to 10, 2026, in partnership with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
The event attracted more than 25,000 visitors, 450 exhibitors, and over 600 investors, bringing together technology leaders, investors, and startup founders from Asia and the Middle East, along with the participation of Saudi technology companies that showcased their solutions and innovations to global markets.
With LEAP’s move to Hong Kong, its role has expanded to become a technological and investment bridge between the Middle East and Asia, a window for startups to access new markets, and to promote cooperation in artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and entrepreneurship.
The selection of Hong Kong as the exclusive headquarters for the Asian edition for the next three years also reflects the continued international expansion of LEAP, and its transformation from an annual event linked to Riyadh to a technology movement that originated in the Kingdom and has begun to build a global presence.
Riyadh hosts the fifth edition
The fifth edition in Riyadh comes at a time when «LEAP» has become a platform that brings together various parties in the technology ecosystem, from global companies and investors to startups, innovators, experts and decision-makers.
The LEAP 2026 events will address a number of the most prominent issues that shape the future of technology, most notably artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, data and cybersecurity, in addition to financial and health technology, smart cities, energy, climate, space, gaming, sports technology and digital commerce.
The fifth edition also features a range of specialized spaces and experiences, including LEAP Connect, dedicated to building connections and partnerships; Sports Tech Hub, showcasing the future of sports technology; World Tech Zone, displaying global innovations; and LEAP Studios, for creating live content. The conference also includes programs for startups and investors, and platforms for announcing investments, agreements, and technology initiatives.
The trajectory of Leap since 2022 reflects the remarkable transformation the platform has undergone in just four editions; from over 100,000 visitors at its launch to over 200,000 in its fourth edition, and from $6.4 billion in launches and investments to $14.9 billion, culminating in a cumulative total exceeding $44.2 billion. This growth is a direct result of the support and empowerment provided to the communications, technology, and artificial intelligence sectors by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which has contributed to strengthening the Kingdom's competitive digital environment and attracting investments and advanced technologies.
With the launch of its fifth edition today, «LEAP» continues to build its path as a Saudi-originated, cross-border movement that started in Riyadh and then extended to Hong Kong, bringing together global technology and investment ecosystems, supporting startups and talents, enhancing the Kingdom’s presence in the digital economy, and opening new horizons for technology, artificial intelligence, and investment from Riyadh.
