Leap to bring together best minds in technology to tackle global challenges

Saudi Arabia will be hosting the largest technology event ever launched, Leap. The event will bring together the global technology community under one roof to tackle the biggest socio-cultural challenges of the world.

Taking place from the February 1-3, 2022 in Riyadh, Leap will welcome speakers from all around the world; including Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder, Kaspersky; Raghu Raghuram, CEO, VMware; Maelle Gavet, CEO, Techstars; Youngcho Chi, president and chief innovation officer, Hyundai Motor Group; Peggy Johnson, CEO, Magic Leap; Nnenna Nwakanma, Chief Web Advocate, World Wide Web Foundation and Siim Sikkut, government chief information officer (GCIO), Estonia. They will be joined by experts from the region; including Eng. Olayan M. Alwetaid, group CEO, STC; Eng. Salman Al Badran, CEO, Mobily; Ghinwa Baradhi, CIO MENAT region for HSBC and Sky Kurtz, founder and CEO at Pure Harvest.

The event will also feature inspirational stories from people like Steven Bartlett, entrepreneur, and BBC’s youngest ever Dragon, as well as football legends Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo.

Over 700 emerging technology start-ups will showcase their solutions to the world. Organised and produced by Informa Markets, Leap is sponsored by leading local and international companies including, Microsoft, Cisco, KPMG, SoftwareAG, Nutanix, STC, Zain, Mobily and Ericsson, who will act together as strategic partners to bring this event to life.

Commenting on the event, Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said: “Technology and innovation have enormous potential to transform economies and societies. We live in a time where you either leap or be left behind. We are proud to host LEAP to help the region lead and leapfrog with technology and innovation”.

“Informa are delighted to have launched Leap in Saudi Arabia. It is clear to us that with the enormous technology projects happening in the country, there is no hub in the world better placed to host such an amazing event,” said Mike Champion, regional executive vice president of Informa Markets.

“In its first year, LEAP will be the largest debut technology event in history, and there can be no better evidence than that to prove Saudi Arabia is a future global technology hub.”