The LEAP Tech Conference 2025, held from February 9–12, 2025, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, was a landmark event showcasing the latest advancements in technology and innovation. With over 1,000 expert speakers, 1,800 global tech brands, and more than 170,000 attendees, LEAP 2025 solidified its position as one of the most influential tech gatherings in the world. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights from each day.
Day 4: Key Announcements & Trends
The final day of LEAP 2025 brought together technology leaders, investors, and innovators for discussions on AI advancements, digital transformation, gaming, fintech, sustainability, and the future of business. With a packed schedule of keynotes, fireside chats, panel discussions, and live tech showcases, the event concluded with a powerful message about the role of technology in shaping the future.
AI and Cloud Computing: Transforming Business and Technology
AI-driven cloud computing is transforming industries with automation, scalability, and predictive analytics.
AI and cloud computing took center stage as industry experts explored how businesses can leverage AI-driven cloud solutions for innovation, scalability, and efficiency. A key session on BigQuery and Vertex AI demonstrated how machine learning and advanced data processing are unlocking new levels of automation and predictive analytics. Businesses were encouraged to integrate Gen AI into cloud ecosystems to streamline operations and improve decision-making.
Further discussions emphasized the role of AI-powered cloud solutions across industries such as finance, healthcare, and logistics, highlighting their potential to drive efficiency and innovation. Experts explored how AI is redefining cloud operations, making businesses more scalable and secure, while a separate session on Cloud 3.0 looked ahead to a future where AI-driven cloud solutions create intelligent, autonomous cloud ecosystems.
AI-Driven Business and Investment: The Innovation Economy
As AI and automation reshape industries, investors and entrepreneurs discussed strategies for building tech hubs, funding startups, and fostering innovation. Tim Draper and David Beckett provided insights into how global investors and policymakers can create sustainable technology ecosystems, highlighting funding strategies and AI-driven market trends.
The discussion on DeepTech Frontiers brought together venture capitalists and startup founders to explore investment strategies for AI, cloud, and automation-based startups. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s booming startup ecosystem was a major focus in a panel featuring founders of the country’s top unicorns. They shared their experiences in scaling startups into billion-dollar companies, with particular emphasis on AI, fintech, and SaaS innovations.
A key session also showcased Saudi’s most promising startups, where founders discussed funding, market challenges, and technological breakthroughs. The message was clear—Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a global tech hub, attracting significant investments in AI and digital transformation.
Sustainability, AI, and Smart Cities
AI is driving sustainability through climate intelligence, cultural preservation, and smart city development, highlighting its role in environmental and economic progress.
As sustainability becomes a core focus in AI development, thought leaders discussed how technology is being used to address climate challenges, cultural preservation, and smart city development. Experts explored how AI-powered tools are helping preserve cultural heritage, promote sustainable tourism, and improve urban infrastructure.
A particularly forward-thinking session introduced Atlai 2.0, an AI-driven climate intelligence platform, designed to analyze environmental data and inform policy decisions. Another fascinating discussion examined how solar-powered data centers and AI training in space are creating a more sustainable and intelligent AI future. These discussions highlighted the growing intersection between AI, environmental responsibility, and economic development.
AI in Sports and Gaming: The Next Big Evolution
AI’s role in sports innovation was explored in a discussion featuring industry leaders who highlighted how AI is transforming athlete performance, sports analytics, and fan engagement. AI is now enabling real-time data-driven strategies, enhancing training methodologies, and reshaping the future of sports entertainment.
Gaming was another major focus, with experts discussing how AI is redefining storytelling, game development, and player experiences. The future of gaming will see AI-driven storytelling, real-time adaptive game worlds, and smart non-player characters (NPCs) that react more naturally to human players. There was also a deep dive into how gaming entrepreneurs can secure funding and scale their innovations, further reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global gaming powerhouse.
The intersection of gaming and education was another key highlight, as speakers from Stanford and Misk Schools discussed how gamification and AI-powered learning tools are shaping the future of digital education. These discussions emphasized that gaming is no longer just entertainment—it is also a powerful tool for learning and skill development.
AI and Business Leadership: Insights from Global Leaders
Business and technology leaders shared valuable insights on how AI is driving corporate strategy, digital transformation, and economic growth. A fireside chat with PwC’s Global Chairman delved into how AI is influencing business leadership and global decision-making. Meanwhile, women in technology took the spotlight, with a panel of industry-leading female executives discussing the importance of gender diversity and leadership in AI and technology.
Another key conversation featured Amazon’s Middle East VP, who shared insights into Amazon’s expansion strategies and AI-driven commerce innovations. The discussion covered how AI is personalizing customer experiences, optimizing supply chains, and improving e-commerce efficiency.
The Grand Finale: Rocket Fuel Startup Competition & Closing Remarks
The Rocket Fuel competition goes down to the wire with 12 finalists going head to head for the $1M prize – Source: Instagram @leapandinnovate
The Rocket Fuel Startup Competition Finale was one of the most anticipated moments of the day, featuring the top startups of LEAP 2025 competing for investment and industry recognition. This high-energy event showcased cutting-edge AI, fintech, and sustainability solutions, reinforcing the role of LEAP as a catalyst for global tech innovation.
The conference concluded with closing remarks reflecting on the success of LEAP 2025 and looking ahead to LEAP 2026. The final awards were presented, recognizing the most innovative and impactful startups of the event. With groundbreaking announcements, transformative discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities, LEAP 2025 has set the stage for another year of technological advancements.
As the final moments of the event unfolded, the message was clear—AI, cloud, and digital transformation will continue to shape the global economy, and LEAP remains at the forefront of this technological revolution.
LEAP 2025 Recap: Key Highlights from the First Three Days
If you’re just tuning in, LEAP 2025 has been packed with groundbreaking discussions on AI, robotics, smart cities, fintech, and sustainability. Missed the first three days? No problem! Here’s a quick recap of everything you need to know before diving into the final day.
Day 1: Transformative Technologies and Future Visions
The opening day set the stage with AI, cloud computing, robotics, and EdTech at the forefront. Google Cloud introduced new innovations for Saudi businesses, while keynotes explored AI’s role in shaping modern economies. Fintech advancements, AI-driven healthcare solutions, and cybersecurity discussions took center stage. Meanwhile, venture capital trends and space tech investments highlighted growing opportunities in AI-driven business models.
Day 2: AI, Robotics, and Smart Cities
The second day focused on real-world AI applications in industries like robotics, urban planning, and gaming. Experts demonstrated how autonomous systems and AI-powered analytics are transforming businesses, while Saudi Arabia’s smart city initiatives showcased IoT and 5G integration. Gaming was another major theme, with discussions on Saudi’s growing gaming ecosystem. Startups gained attention with innovations in AI-driven automation, delivery drones, and robotics, while Quantum Computing and AI’s role in economic transformation were key highlights.
Day 3: Cybersecurity, Fintech, and AI-Driven Sustainability
Security, financial technology, and sustainability shaped Day 3’s agenda, with deep dives into cybersecurity threats, AI’s role in digital finance, and blockchain innovations. Google Cloud AI’s impact on business growth, AI-powered fintech advancements, and regulatory challenges were widely discussed. Women’s leadership in AI and investment strategies for scaling startups were also key highlights. The day closed with a session on AI-driven environmental efforts and smart city initiatives, reinforcing AI’s potential to address global challenges.
LEAP Conference: Insights from SmartDev Leap Representatives
LEAP 2025 was a testament to the scale and ambition of global technology innovation. As a first-time attendee, SmartDev experienced firsthand the groundbreaking advancements, investment-driven discussions, and high-impact collaborations shaping the future of tech.
The Scale and Impact of LEAP 2025
The event demonstrated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to establishing itself as a global technology hub. With companies from around the world unveiling their latest innovations, the conference was not just about showcasing technology but about real-world applications and investment opportunities that will define the next decade.
AI and Space Exploration: A Discussion with NASA’s Chief AI Officer
One of the most thought-provoking sessions at LEAP 2025 was a discussion with NASA’s Chief AI Officer, who presented AI’s expanding role in space exploration, healthcare, and human-AI interactions.
Key insights from the session:
- AI in Space Exploration: AI is advancing mission autonomy, allowing deep-space operations to function with less human intervention.
- AI in Healthcare: Real-time AI diagnostics could soon allow astronauts to receive medical evaluations in space, eliminating delays caused by distance.
- AI-Human Interaction: AI is becoming more sophisticated in understanding and responding to human behavior, reshaping the way people interact with technology.
The discussion highlighted how these advancements are not just futuristic concepts—they are unfolding now, fundamentally changing how industries operate.
Saudi Arabia’s Growing Role in Global Tech Innovation
Beyond the exhibitions and discussions, LEAP 2025 showcased how Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a major force in global technology development.
The country’s strategic investments in AI, cloud infrastructure, and smart cities are attracting major industry players and positioning the region as a key player in the evolution of global technology.
SmartDev at LEAP 2025: Expanding Horizons in AI and Market Growth
Petr Krasnov, CEO & Co-Founder of Verysell Group, attending LEAP Conference for networking and gaining insights into emerging tech trends.
SmartDev’s participation in LEAP 2025 was a significant opportunity to explore emerging AI trends, technological breakthroughs, and strategic market expansion. As one of the world’s most influential tech conferences, LEAP 2025 provided a platform for networking, investment, and collaboration, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers shaping the future of technology.
For SmartDev, attending LEAP 2025 was especially valuable as we actively explore market expansion in the UAE. Engaging with key players in the region allowed us to strengthen our network, understand local market trends, and identify new business opportunities. Additionally, with Verysell Group shifting its focus toward AI-driven solutions, this event provided crucial insights into the latest advancements in AI, automation, and digital transformation, reinforcing our strategic direction.
LEAP 2025 was more than just a technology showcase—it was a glimpse into the future of AI and innovation, equipping SmartDev with the knowledge, connections, and vision to drive the next phase of growth in AI-powered solutions.
