LEAP’s Enhanced Fourth Edition to Make its Return on February 9 in Riyadh

LEAP has announced the return of its revamped fourth edition, set to take place from February 9 to 12 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre in Malham. Under the theme ‘Into New Worlds,’ LEAP 2025 marks the pioneering tech event’s first ticketed edition, aiming to attract a higher percentage of influential industry attendees to boost business networking and investment opportunities across the technology landscape.

Co-organized by Tahaluf and the Ministry for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)—a joint venture between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund—LEAP 2025 promises advanced features. These include a new series of ‘LEAP Nights’ activities, the return of DeepFest, a dedicated Tech Arena, a SportsTech Track, and a commitment to fostering innovation across multiple sectors such as space, gaming, education, and smart cities, spread over 20 stages.

Tahaluf anticipates the fourth edition will see a significant increase in valuable interactions between exhibitors and visitors, with LEAP 2025 guests engaging with more than 680 start-ups, over 1,000 expert speakers, and over 1,800 global tech brands. LEAP 2025 is set to offer attendees more exclusive experiences, with a focus on connecting the right people with the latest and most exciting technologies.

A brand new SportsTech Track will merge the world of sports with cutting-edge tech trends. Attendees can step into the future of sports through live demos, industry announcements, and the latest innovations from clubs, industry leaders, and sector pioneers. Notable speakers include Patrice Evra, successful entrepreneur and former Manchester United forward, and Mathieu Pierre Flamini, former French professional footballer and co-founder of GF Biochemicals.

Another new addition to LEAP 2025 is the Tech Arena, where attendees can witness live product demos, get hands-on with prototypes, and see groundbreaking technology in action. This arena will feature a lineup of interactive engagements, connecting participants directly with tomorrow’s breakthrough technologies and innovations.

The Startup Stage at LEAP 2025 will shine a spotlight on the brightest innovators and startups. Whether pitching, networking, or exploring attendees will find the Startup Stage to be the place where ideas take flight and the future of tech unfolds. Expanding beyond the convention halls, LEAP 2025 introduces LEAP Nights. Attendees can immerse themselves in Riyadh’s vibrant cultural scene with an exciting lineup of dinners, meetups, and live entertainment. LEAP Nights will provide the perfect backdrop for networking, socializing, and soaking in the city’s energy while forging new connections across the global tech community.

LEAP 2025 will also feature enhanced matchmaking, investor-to-investor workshops, and more mentorship sessions. Attendees can join LEAP’s investor and startup ecosystem, bringing over 1,500 global investors and startups to Riyadh. The Investor Program includes dedicated lounges, an exclusive area for investors to connect with General Partners, Limited Partners, Funds of Funds, and a matchmaking zone with personalized networking spaces.

LEAP 2025 boasts an impressive lineup of notable international figures. Confirmed attendees include Ken Kutaragi, former Chairman and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, coinciding with PlayStation’s 30th anniversary on December 4th; Javier Tebas, President of LA LIGA, Spain’s professional football league; Connie Chan, General Partner of Andreessen Horowitz; and Andrea Vena, Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer of the European Space Agency.

The event will also welcome back familiar guest speakers and global technology leaders, such as Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, who attended last year. Previous LEAP editions have featured renowned tech experts like Eric Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom Video Communications; Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok; and Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google and renowned tech commentator.

Attendees can anticipate more high-calibre speakers and exhibitors as LEAP continues to solidify its reputation as the premier venue for connecting technology thought leaders and pioneers. With 75 per cent of conference speakers travelling to Saudi Arabia to participate, LEAP promises to be a significant event in the global tech calendar.

His Excellency Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, emphasized LEAP’s role in defining the Kingdom’s future, saying, “LEAP has made an outstanding contribution to the realisation of the Saudi Vision 2030 goals and has rightly positioned the country as a global technology hub. The decision to move to a ticketed format this year makes LEAP more of an exclusive experience for attendees and relevant to today’s global technology elite. LEAP 2025 will showcase exceptional technology innovations, business opportunities and content – ensuring Saudi Arabia becomes the world’s undisputed technology aggregator.”

Faisal Alkhamisi, Chairman of the SAFCP, said the new LEAP 2025 initiatives reflected the event’s role in mirroring the rapid pace of tech industry developments and hinted at even more to come. “Over the past three 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,” Alkhamisi added.

Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, Saudi Arabia’s largest B2B event organiser and organiser of iconic brands LEAP, Cityscape, and Black Hat MEA, explained, “By transforming LEAP, we are creating a more curated experience. Transitioning to a ticketed model will allow exhibitors and participants to benefit from direct access to a highly engaged and laser-focused audience, leading to more meaningful collaborations and business opportunities. This change reflects our commitment to delivering an event that continues to set the gold standard for tech innovation globally. In the space of just three years, LEAP delivered an incredibly public and private onsite investment totalling more than $27.5 billion, set ever higher benchmarks for tech events worldwide, and delivered the economic impact that stretched well beyond the exhibition and conference floors. With our new strategically focussed format, we expect to accelerate the investment stream and supercharge innovation.”