Saudi Arabia Attracts Massive AI Investment at LEAP 2025
Saudi Arabia secured over $20 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) related investments during the LEAP 2025 global technology event hosted in Riyadh. The two-day event highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to digital transformation and technological advancement.
Day One: A Flood of AI Investments
On the first day of LEAP 2025, investments and projects in AI totaled over $14.9 billion, according to the Saudi Press Agency. These initiatives are designed to bolster digital skills, support tech startups, and encourage innovation throughout the Kingdom.
Several major announcements drove the investment surge on the first day:
- Groq & Aramco Digital announced a $1.5 billion investment to advance AI-powered cloud computing.
- Alat & Lenovo confirmed a $2 billion investment to establish an advanced AI and robotics manufacturing and technology center in the Kingdom, as well as Lenovo’s regional headquarters in Riyadh.
- Google unveiled plans for a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia to enhance its AI infrastructure.
- Qualcomm introduced the ALLaM language model on the Qualcomm AI Cloud, along with the ALLaM AI PC, which provides cloud-based AI solutions for developers.
- Alibaba Cloud, in collaboration with Tuwaiq Academy and STC, launched an AI empowerment program in Saudi Arabia to train local talent.
- Databricks committed $300 million towards PaaS solutions supporting app developers and fostering data engineering and AI expertise.
- SambaNova pledged $140 million to develop advanced AI infrastructure in the country.
- KKR & Gulf Data Hub announced an investment in Saudi Arabia’s data center development with a total capacity of up to 300 megawatts.
- Salesforce committed $500 million to expand its Hyperforce platform.
- Tencent Cloud pledged a $150 million investment to establish its first cloud region in the Middle East, with its launch originating from Saudi Arabia.
Day Two: Further Investment in Data and Infrastructure
Day two of LEAP 2025 saw commitments topping $7.5 billion for data centers, submarine cable networks, and fiber-optic cable networks.
Key investments included:
- DataVolt, in collaboration with NEOM, announced a $5 billion investment to create the first completely sustainable AI data center in OXAGON.
- Alfanar revealed a $1.4 billion investment to develop four data centers.
- Mobily committed $905 million toward developing submarine cable networks and advanced data center projects.
- Zoom pledged $75 million to drive AI innovation and establish new data centers, bolstering support for tech enterprises and government entities.
- Saudi Arabia Railways announced a $51 million investment in a private fiber-optic network that aims to improve digital connectivity and expand the communications infrastructure.
These significant investments showcase Saudi Arabia’s dedication to being a leader in the global technological landscape and highlight the Kingdom’s ambition to become a major player in the field of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
