In pics: Day one at Saudi’s largest-ever tech event LEAP22

Saudi Arabia is hosting its largest-ever technology event, LEAP, from February 1-3. The event has brought together the global technology community under one roof to tackle the biggest socio-cultural challenges of the world.

The event will feature over 400 expert speakers across six conferences. It will include global speakers such as Amer Al Qahtani, chief executive officer business development, Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA); Talal Al Kaissi, chief executive officer, G42 Cloud; Eugene Kaspersky, chief executive officer and co-founder, Kaspersky; YoungCho Chi, president and chief innovation officer, Hyundai Motor Group; Maëlle Gavet, CEO, Techstars; Peggy Johnson, CEO, Magic Leap; Richard Houston, chief executive officer, Deloitte North and South Europe; Dr Nabeel Koshak, chief executive officer and board member, Saudi Venture Capital Company; Dr Makaziwe Mandela, founder, House of Mandela Family Foundation; Salman Al Badran, chief executive officer, Mobily; Ghinwa Baradhi, chief information officer-MENAT region for HSBC.

LEAP is supported by the Saudi government as well as the kingdom’s leading investors. The platform intends to improve business prospects by empowering the funding of ideas and developing tech startups.

Co-organised by Informa Tech, MCIT and SAFCSP, LEAP is sponsored by leading local and international companies including STC, Ericsson, Mobily, Cisco, Huawei, SAP, Microsoft, Saudi Digital Academy (SDA), NTDP, Monsha’at, Jahez, Al Rajhi Bank, Salam and MakanE.