On day three of LEAP 2025, Saudi Arabia’s award-winning global tech event, major strides to boost artificial intelligence operations, augment data center capabilities and harness technology talents continued. A further $1.78 billion in investments, announcements and funding rounds were confirmed as the spotlight fell on start-ups, next-gen sector disruptors and sports.
Equinix, the world’s largest data infrastructure company, led the way with an announcement on the LEAP 2025 main stage of a $1 billion investment to launch the region’s largest data center in Saudi Arabia. The firm promised that the investment would lead to “job creation and more industries coming in”.
In addition, investments totaling more than $695 million to support startups, AI technologies, esports and innovation solutions were also announced.
Key investments and announcements
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing importance in Esports is a new venture, the HGM Fund. Following the establishment of its headquarters in the Kingdom, HGM announced the launch of a $300 million fund to develop games in Saudi Arabia ready for local and international distribution.
Louis Gresham, Partner – Gaming & Esports at HGM, revealed WILCO, the very first first-person shooter game to be made in the Kingdom, telling the audience the game will “take the world by storm,” when it is released in October this year.
During LEAP 2025, the National Technology Development Program (NTDP) announced the launch of accelerators and financing funds worth $150 million to enhance the growth of technology companies in the Kingdom.
Joa Capital launched an infrastructure fund worth $80 million in partnership with Buildnow Trading to address the construction sector’s needs. Meanwhile, Ula Capital announced the first Saudi Arabian fund worth $75 million dedicated to investing in applied AI and deep tech ventures.
Furthermore, Sharaka Financial launched a $30 million fund to support the growth of startups in the MENA region, and Orbit Startups unveiled a $60 million accelerator in partnership with Sanabil Investments to invest in 200 early-stage tech startups.
Building future-ready workforces
On day three of LEAP 2025, leading tech companies also announced the establishment of academies to build future-ready workforces by training 60,000 national talents in AI and advanced technologies.
Microsoft launched the first Datacenter Academy in the region in partnership with NITA – a not-for-profit training academy – with a promise to export data.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) announced the completion of Cohort 2 and the launch of Cohort 3 of its sandbox initiative, a platform for emerging technologies to enable innovators and startups to test, launch and scale new tech solutions.
Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 to embrace technology
On the first day of LEAP 2025’s inaugural Sports Tech track, Hammad Albalawi, Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit, sat down with former France international and UEFA Champions League winner Patrice Evra to discuss the Kingdom’s plans for the historic global showpiece. Emphasizing the importance of technology in Saudi Arabia’s broader vision for football development and societal transformation in the country, Albalawi said the Kingdom is ready to embrace change more than ever.
“What you see in Saudi Arabia, especially here at LEAP, is a commitment to ensure that when the technology is available, we’re going to use it. Whatever becomes available to enhance the live viewing experience, to enhance the athletes’ performance, to enhance the seamless operation of the World Cup, you bet we will use it, and you bet we will make it the best experience,” said Albalawi.
Noting that two-thirds of Saudi Arabia’s population was not born when Brazil won the FIFA World Cup in 1994, Albalawi highlighted how the love and demand for football in the country has tripled, yet the growth in terms of pitches, stadiums, academies and clubs has not.
“The impact, insights and investments we are seeing at LEAP 2025 across a diverse range of non-traditional tech sectors is truly remarkable. We have heard from some of the leading global sports minds today, identifying, quite clearly, how technology is playing a key role in not only sports engagement at a fan level but also at an industry level to increase growth, revenue, efficiency and various other critical metrics,” said Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf.
85 percent of sports events are now using AI
On the LEAP 2025 main stage, Javier Tebas, President of Spain’s LaLiga, told delegates how AI can help football clubs both on and off the pitch. Acknowledging how AI is altering people’s lives and has become a tool “we cannot live without”, the head of Spanish football added the technology is “changing the history of sport”.
“We can see this revolution happening at a fast pace,” he said, citing that 85 percent of sports events are using AI. “AI and technology are helping our football clubs, our coaches, and our trainers improve efficiency,” he added.
Tebas noted that while AI can help clubs tackle piracy and copyright challenges, with football a more global sport than ever before, there is a growing need for greater collaboration across countries.
“Right now, there is content that is being published that is illegal. We have to protect the copyright of our game, of our clubs. There needs to be more collaboration between clubs, with tech companies, with media channels. We see Saudi Arabia as a bridge to new technologies, to greater collaboration,” he said.