The CEO of Tahaluf joins Tom Watson on The Riyal Deal to discuss the success of events like LEAP and Cityscape Global. Platinumlist is among the ticketing platforms harnessing the growing number of events and providing a gateway to these events.

Today, the most successful global events compete for economic relevance, and Saudi Arabia understands that distinction better than most. Across the Kingdom, events are increasingly being treated as vehicles for accelerating investment, strengthening priority sectors and supporting long term economic diversification. Indeed, the Saudi events industry has become a clear example of how national ambition and private sector delivery can combine to build globally competitive platforms.

A new multinational survey out of Riyadh put a number on something the Gulf’s business community has felt building for months: outside investors are not hedging their bets on the region, they are doubling down on them.

As the next wave of technology unfolds, the places where investors, founders and policymakers meet are as influential as the technologies themselves. One event highlighting this shift is tech conference LEAP, in Saudi Arabia. Now in its fifth year, what began as a regional showcase in capital Riyadh, to spotlight the Middle East’s growing ecosystem, has evolved into a strategic meeting point for global innovation.

LEAP 2026, which will run from August 31 to September 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, is set to reinforce the Kingdom's position at the forefront of the global AI economy as it brings together the world's leading companies, investors, and innovators driving the field forward.

Saudi Arabia's global tech festival LEAP 2026 returns to Riyadh from 31 August to 3 September, uniting AI, fintech, space tech and world class investors.