LEAP 2025, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s award-winning global technology event, is set to unveil a host of next-generation innovations from across the globe. Entrepreneurs and startups will gather in Riyadh to showcase their products to an expected audience of over 170,000 visitors. The prototypes will be featured within the inaugural Tech Arena, a pioneering ‘live TV’ platform designed to spark curiosity, promote collaboration, and highlight the transformative potential of emerging technologies.
Event details and theme
Running from February 9-12 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham, the fourth edition of LEAP carries the theme ‘The Future of Tech’. Within the Tech Arena, attendees will embark on an immersive journey exploring robotics, artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies, mixed reality, and prototypes that challenge existing boundaries.
Visitors will enjoy live showcases and interactive experiences that vividly bring future technologies to life. Emerging talents will collaborate with major enterprises, including Aramco, L’Oreal, Adobe, Ericsson, Alwaleed Philanthropies, XAR Labs, Devoteam, and Engine VR inside the Tech Arena, highlighting the latest advancements in technology.
Unveiling next-gen innovations: Robotics, AI, and beyond
The Tech Arena is set to feature an interactive format with live demonstrations led by BBC Click icons and esteemed technology journalists Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. This design positions visitors at the forefront of technological advancements, showcasing everything from AI and Mixed Reality to Fashion Tech and Brain-Computer Interfaces, providing attendees with a glimpse into what the future holds.
The Tech Arena will act as a crossroads between design and technology. Anouk Wipprecht’s Tech Couture exhibit will challenge the boundaries between fashion and engineering, presenting robotic dress collections that move and respond in lifelike manners. In line with the fashion tech theme, Adobe is set to showcase its ‘Project Primrose’ digital dress, heralding a future of wearable, instantly modifiable textiles that open new avenues for creativity.
Revolutionizing healthcare with AI-driven solutions
The inaugural Tech Arena will also spotlight advancements in medical technology, including the Aramco-backed Terra Drone’s long-range medical delivery system, capable of transporting essential medical supplies to remote regions via air. This technology has the potential to transform healthcare access in underserved communities. Additionally, Aramco will demonstrate its latest AI-trained assistant, SARA (Saudi Aramco Robotics Assistant), which utilizes AI to enhance decision-making and provide intuitive, personalized interactions.
Inside the Tech Arena, US-based Engine VR will showcase its Golden Gloves VR platform, utilizing virtual reality technology to deliver an immersive, gamified boxing experience tailored for fitness enthusiasts, professional athletes, and entertainment seekers. Attendees will have the chance to witness live demonstrations by professional UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez and experience the platform themselves across various skill levels and scenarios.
Read more | LEAP 2025 in Saudi Arabia to welcome over 680 startups, 1,000 speakers
Global innovators converge at LEAP 2025
Moreover, Alwaleed Philanthropies, a Saudi Arabian NGO that initiates, supports, and collaborates on global projects, will present an AI reporting tool named Atlai, designed to monitor and combat deforestation. This tool employs AI technology to track and generate reports on deforestation events worldwide, aiding advocates in the protection of global ecosystems.
Attendees can also explore XPANCEO’s smart contact lenses, which integrate computational capabilities into a lightweight wearable device. These lenses represent a new era of seamless interaction with data in any environment.
“At XPANCEO, we are looking forward to showcasing our revolutionary smart contact lenses at LEAP 2025’s inaugural Tech Arena,” stated Dr. Valentyn Volkov, co-founder of XPANCEO. “Our innovative wearable technology promises to advance the seamless integration of human senses and data, and we believe LEAP 2025 is the perfect platform to introduce our newest advances in AR vision technology.”
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, who co-organizes LEAP with the Saudi Ministry for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), emphasized the benefits that innovative startups can anticipate.
“The Tech Arena is a unique opportunity to experience tomorrow’s world today,” she remarked. “With over 170,000 attendees expected, exhibitors will have the chance to engage a diverse audience of tech professionals, enthusiasts, and investors. This inaugural segment will host the most innovative and impactful technologies from emerging innovators worldwide, who will, in return, gain unparalleled exposure and receive valuable feedback on their groundbreaking solutions.”
Mander added that the new arena exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 commitment to inspire and cultivate innovation. “By creating a space where innovators can connect with global audiences and investors, we are contributing to the Kingdom’s goal of becoming an impactful global tech hub.”
Focus on SportsTech
The Tech Arena is one of two transformative stages at LEAP 2025, with the other featuring a series of sessions centered on SportsTech. These additions reinforce LEAP’s mission to inspire, innovate, and push industry boundaries into new realms, propelling both LEAP and Saudi Arabia towards elevated standards in innovation and technological advancement.
