LEAP 2026 concluded its fifth edition on Thursday, organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, Tahaluf, and the Events Investment Fund under the theme "Into New Worlds." LEAP 2026 witnessed global technology and investment momentum that strengthened the Kingdom's position as a leading center for the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI).
 Over four days at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, LEAP 2026 saw announcements, investments, and agreements worth nearly $15 billion, covering AI infrastructure, data centers, cloud computing, technology manufacturing, and venture capital, along with wide-ranging initiatives to develop national capabilities and align them with labor market needs and promising sectors.
 The announcements included the establishment and expansion of high-capacity data centers and the development of computing and AI infrastructure. They also included the announcement that the Microsoft Azure cloud region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will become available in November 2026, supporting local data hosting and the growth of cloud services and digital sectors.
 Al Moammar Information Systems announced a $1.2 billion investment to expand its data centers and increase their capacity to 192 megawatts, while NHC Innovation announced an $800 million investment to develop Khuzam Digital Valley, with capacity that can be expanded to 65 megawatts by 2033.
 Among the major cloud investments, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the launch of its first cloud infrastructure region in the Kingdom in December 2026 as part of a planned investment of more than $5.3 billion. AWS also expanded its partnership with HUMAIN to provide up to 50 megawatts of capacity within the first AI zone in the Kingdom by 2028. The collaboration includes making the ALLAM Arabic-language model available through Amazon Bedrock and providing HUMAIN Fabric through AWS Marketplace, enhancing advanced computing capabilities and enabling various sectors to develop and operate AI solutions on a large scale.
 In the creative industries sector, Adobe announced a commitment worth more than $4 billion as part of an expanded partnership with MCIT and HUMAIN. By the end of 2026, the partnership will provide more than 27 million eligible citizens and residents aged 13 or older with Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features free for 12 months. It also includes developing the first image-generation model using Adobe Firefly Foundry, designed in partnership with HUMAIN to reflect Saudi culture and local context and support the creation of creative content with a Saudi character through Arabic-language prompts.
 At the conclusion of its proceedings, LEAP 2026 announced that the sixth edition will be held from April 12 to 15, 2027, to continue building global partnerships, attracting investment, enabling innovation and talent, and strengthening the Kingdom's leading position in the smart age.
 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Google announced, during LEAP 2026, the launch of a national initiative providing one million students at Saudi universities with free access to Google's advanced AI technologies for one year. The initiative aims to develop future skills and enhance the readiness of national talent to compete and innovate in the Intelligence Age.
 The initiative was announced by Head of Public Policy at Google for Saudi Arabia and North Africa Sarah Al-Husseini, as part of the company's participation in the conference. She reaffirmed Google's commitment to expanding access to AI technologies and supporting students in using them responsibly and effectively for learning, research, and innovation.
 The initiative provides students aged 18 and above with a free one-year subscription to the Google AI Plus plan, enabling them to use Gemini tools for research, information analysis, developing ideas and academic projects, and enhancing productivity.
 This initiative builds on ongoing collaboration to develop digital capabilities in the Kingdom, following Google programs that have trained more than 600,000 people in AI and digital marketing skills over recent years, including the Maharat min Google program.
 Deputy Minister for Future Skills and Jobs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Mohammed Alrubayan said: "This partnership stems from a national priority to build human capital capable of leading the digital economy and competing in the Intelligence Age. Providing one million university students with access to AI technologies goes beyond expanding access to advanced tools; it aims to integrate these technologies responsibly and effectively into the learning journey, enhance productivity and innovation, and align education outcomes with the skills and jobs of the future. This will enable national talent to move from using technology to developing its applications and creating meaningful impact."
 Students can register for the initiative until December 31, 2026, following verification of their university status through the following page: ‏https://gemini.google/students⁠.
 The Google AI Plus plan offers a range of features, including the Gemini app, which provides access to advanced AI models for understanding complex problems, conducting in-depth research, analyzing information, and supporting learning. It also includes media generation tools for creating images and videos and supporting educational and creative projects in various formats. NotebookLM serves as an AI-powered assistant for organizing sources and references, summarizing academic content, and creating interactive audio overviews. The plan also provides 400 GB of storage for study materials, references, and academic projects.
 The initiative also includes a series of training programs delivered throughout the year in collaboration between MCIT and Google, aimed at enabling students to use AI tools efficiently and responsibly throughout their educational journey.
 Google is also offering additional options for students, including a discount of up to 75% on the Google AI Pro plan, which provides advanced tools and models for those interested in programming and design, as well as a special package offering up to 70% off Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium.
 The initiative builds on MCIT's efforts to develop national capabilities and strengthen partnerships with leading global technology companies, expanding opportunities for learning and innovation and helping prepare a generation capable of leveraging AI and developing its applications from the Kingdom to the world.
 

The fourth day of LEAP 2026 saw the launch of an integrated ecosystem of academies, centers of excellence, and specialized initiatives through partnerships between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Digital Academy, and a number of leading global technology companies. These initiatives aim to invest in national talent, develop skills in artificial intelligence, data, and content creation, and align human capabilities with labor market needs and promising sectors.
 The launches included the Gemini initiative, in partnership with Google, providing one million students at Saudi universities with access to advanced AI technologies to support their educational journey, develop their skills, and strengthen their readiness for the jobs of the future.
 An AI Academy was also launched in partnership with WeCloudData to train 500 teachers, 500 university faculty members, and 1,000 startup entrepreneurs, alongside providing online learning programs to 35,000 learners. The initiative aims to help bridge the gap between classroom learning, practical application, and labor market needs.
 The launches also included a digital innovation ecosystem, in partnership with a social media company, targeting 20,000 beneficiaries. It includes a center of excellence, an innovation center, and a digital sustainability initiative, with specialized programs in digital marketing, augmented reality, spatial computing, and digital safety.
 To build digital capabilities for future-focused sectors, an initiative was launched in partnership with Schneider Electric, combining digital learning with in-person training and targeting 10,000 participants by 2030.
 The Saudi AI Forward initiative was also announced in partnership with ServiceNow to empower 1.2 million beneficiaries with AI skills and provide them with professional certifications, opening up broader opportunities for national talent to grow and participate in the digital economy.
 The conference also saw the launch of the Artefact School of AI & Data in the Kingdom, targeting more than 20,000 graduates by 2034 with training in data and advanced analytics and connecting them with high-value opportunities that contribute to enhancing business efficiency.
 As part of efforts to move from AI awareness to practical application, the Alif Applied Generative AI initiative was launched in partnership with Scale AI under a four-year national partnership aimed at equipping 100,000 beneficiaries by 2030.
 The launches also included the AI for Sectors initiative, in partnership with Intel, to equip 100,000 beneficiaries with specialized AI skills through tracks aligned with the needs of promising sectors and designed to enhance the adoption of advanced technologies across these sectors.
 As part of efforts to develop talent and strengthen the AI knowledge ecosystem, an AI Academy was launched in partnership with Microsoft, targeting one million beneficiaries, with a goal of reaching three million by 2030, alongside the AI Arabia Center of Excellence, which will support specialized research, expertise, and knowledge content.
 These launches reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to building a broad national talent base capable of developing and applying AI solutions, enhancing the competitiveness of economic sectors, and reinforcing the Kingdom’s leadership in the Intelligence Age.