Riyadh Prepares to Host the World's Tech Ecosystem as LEAP 5 Targets Global Expansion and Billions in Investment

For the global fintech and investment communities, LEAP’s Investor and Startup Programme positions Riyadh as a crucial hub for capital. Anchored by the Investor and Founder Stage and the $1million Roc

Riyadh will host the fifth edition of LEAP from 13 to 16 April 2026, positioning the Saudi capital as a global meeting point for technology founders, investors and corporates. Co-organised by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) and Tahaluf, organisers say LEAP 5 follows a 2025 edition that catalysed roughly $14.9 billion in deals and announcements. The 2026 programme is expected to attract more than 201,000 visitors, over 600 startups, 1,800 global tech brands and 1,900 investors.

“Over the past four years, LEAP has evolved at a rocket-fuelled pace, playing a critical role in nurturing talent, creativity and investment. Yet, this is just the beginning. LEAP will continue to reflect the ever-changing tech landscape and inspire pioneers from across the globe,” said Faisal Alkhamisi, chairman of the SAFCSP.

Event scope and senior speakers

LEAP 5 will bring together a speaker faculty of more than 1,000 industry figures, including executives from global technology firms and leading Saudi enterprises. Confirmed participants named by organisers include Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Lenovo, Huawei, Cisco and Cerebras Systems, alongside Saudi corporates stc and Aramco.

  • Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, is scheduled to speak on cloud infrastructure.
  • Justin Hotard, CEO and president of Nokia, will address connectivity.
  • Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN, will discuss regional AI applications.
  • Chandra Donelson of the US Space Force and Hanne Jesca Bax from EY will present on frontier government and industry innovations.

Programme expansion and themed zones

Organisers have expanded the footprint to include more than twenty stages across critical sectors, with flagship zones designed to showcase applied technology and commercial use cases.

  • DeepFest — billed as the region’s premier AI and deep tech platform — will include a Tech Arena with live demonstrations from Snowflake, Alteryx and Xerox.
  • GameX Creative — powered by Savvy Games Group, ESL FACEIT Group and Kojima Productions — will focus on gaming, esports and digital storytelling.
  • Sports Tech Hub — featuring The English FA, La Liga and the Aston Martin Formula One Team — will explore AI, data and immersive technologies for sport.
  • LEAP Connect — a newly curated networking environment offering structured matchmaking for founders, investors and C-suite leaders.

The Investor and Startup Programme will centre on the Investor and Founder Stage and the $1 million Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition, covering some 60 tech verticals. Heavyweight investor participation from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), SVC, 500 Global and 20VC is expected to drive cross-border deals and early-stage investment at scale.

Outlook

Mike Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, said LEAP has progressed from a convening to a build site for the tech sector: “LEAP has become a place where the future is not just discussed but built. The momentum in Saudi Arabia is extraordinary, and as LEAP enters its fifth edition, it will take this ambition into new worlds, unlocking investment and shaping the technologies that will define the next decade.”

With ambitious attendance targets and anchor programming designed to marry capital with innovation, LEAP 5 aims to translate the momentum of 2025 — including the reported $14.9 billion in deals — into fresh rounds of cross-border investment, corporate partnerships and startup scaling throughout 2026 and beyond.