Saudi’s LEAP23 bags honour of world’s largest tech event based on visits

Saudi’s LEAP23 bags honour of world’s largest tech event based on visits

Leap23, the technology event in Riyadh, has confirmed 172,000 attendees this year, making it the world’s largest technology event by attendance, according to its organisers. The four-day event saw an unprecedented 300,000-plus visitor registration from more than 100 countries and welcomed a faculty of 1,000 global investors – up from 350 last year. Comprising major investor groups, sovereign wealth funds, private family groups, major venture capital, and private equity funds focused on technology, Leap23’s investor faculty featured assets under management totalling $2tn. With on-event transactions exceeding $9bn – a 32 per cent year-on-year increase – Leap23 has injected fresh foreign direct investment impetus into Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystems and startup economy. Major announcements this year include mega infrastructure investments and multiple new data centres nationwide, a raft of billion-dollar-plus public-private partnerships, and new academies to foster and upskill homegrown talent. Meanwhile, to ensure that the platform continues accelerating the kingdom’s digital transformation, Leap will be moved to a new location for next year’s edition. Leap24 will transition to a 120,000 square metre capacity venue in 2024, enabling the third event to double in floor size and cater for even more innovative technologies, digital entrepreneurs, tech startups and guest