LEAP 24: A Remarkable Tech Event That Attracted Massive Global Investments
LEAP is an annual tech conference that was first launched in 2022 under the supervision of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) Saudi Arabia. It began as a mildly significant tech event, but recorded 100,000 visitors during the first three days of the conference in the history of Saudi Arabia. The number of local and international visitors and digital avenues have always expanded since its inception in 2022.
LEAP 2024 is the third iteration of this innovative event, building on the huge success of its previous editions. A record number of people from 183 nations attended the second LEAP edition, with over 172,000 attendees.
The recent edition lasted from March 4 to 7, 2024 under the esteemed support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The third and the latest edition of the International Tech Exhibition LEAP’24 concluded as the world’s most attended events in the tech fraternity. With over 215,000 visitors from around the world, it set out to be an eye-catching event for the Kingdom. The massive investments also skyrocketed from $6 billion to $12 billion in three years, as announced by the tech entrepreneurs. This figure is enough to attract the eyeballs to the KSA region.
Global tech leaders expect that the LEAP 24 has led the Kingdom on the path to accomplish Saudi Vision 2030, making it the biggest digital economy in the MENA region.
A Summary of Major Global Investments
LEAP 24 will surely be a cornerstone in establishing the technological landscape and innovative digital environment in the region. It attracted aspiring startups, global entities, venture capitalists, and leading tech corporations from all over the world.
The conference hit the ground running with a $5.3 billion investment by Amazon Web Services in a new cloud zone in Saudi Arabia. A $5 billion investment by Datavolt in Saudi data centers with a capacity exceeding 300 megawatts was unveiled as well.
IBM intends to establish a global software development center in the Kingdom with a $250 million investment. In order to localize its regional services in Saudi Arabia and to upskill and train Saudi talent, ServiceNow is investing $500 million.
The first production and fulfillment facility of its type in the MENAT region will be established by Dell in Saudi Arabia.
Aramco revealed that it will launch the Saudi Accelerator Innovation Lab (SAIL). Moreover, the organization has plans for a joint collaboration with SAIL to advance Saudi Arabia’s digital capabilities and introduce the “Metbrain” GenAI concept.
Furthermore, the best automation academy “Uipath” placed a strong emphasis on skills development in the region. It aims to train unskilled workforce in Saudi Arabia, making them valuable members of the society. This will not only impact the tech infrastructure but also enhance the expertise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
What We Achieved As a Package in Leap 24
Global Networking Opportunities:
Stackup Solutions had unparalleled networking opportunities, where we collaborated with tech entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and industry experts, fostering valuable connections and potential partnerships.
Platform to Showcase & Seek Key Points
We received and provided invaluable feedback to the attendees and experts, enabling them to refine their products or services effectively. It came out as a platform that showcased sneak peeks of technological advancements such as AI, digital disruptions in Robotics and Big Data.
Knowledge Exchange
Knowledge Exchange: Through seminars, keynote speeches, and panels with prominent business executives, we delved, explored and shared the insights of current and upcoming technological trends.
By utilizing the opportunities given by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, LEAP has quickly developed into an essential platform for innovation, technical investment, and the exploration of new frontiers.
More than merely a conference, Leap 24 is the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in the international tech sector. The Kingdom wishes to see a better future of innovation, digital literacy, and technological advancements out of the biggest tech conference.
The countdown to what looks to be a game-changing event in the world of technology, LEAP 2024, is drawing near. With an expansive programme, renowned speakers, and unrivalled networking opportunities, LEAP 2024 has driven participants to set off on a path of exploration, creativity, and collaboration. And we’ll surely see a digitally-upscaled version of Saudi Arabia in the near future.
