LEAP Returns to Riyadh in March for its Third Edition

Riyadh will host the third edition of LEAP, the world’s most attended tech event, from March 4 to 7. (SPA)
Riyadh will host the third edition of LEAP, the world’s most attended tech event, from March 4 to 7. (SPA)
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LEAP Returns to Riyadh in March for its Third Edition

Riyadh will host the third edition of LEAP, the world’s most attended tech event, from March 4 to 7. (SPA)
Riyadh will host the third edition of LEAP, the world’s most attended tech event, from March 4 to 7. (SPA)

Riyadh will host the third edition of LEAP, the world’s most attended tech event, from March 4 to 7.

Held under the theme "Into New Worlds", the event is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones, Tahaluf company, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at).

According to a press release issued by the organizing committee of the event, this year’s edition features expert speakers such as IBM Chairman Arvind Krishna, HPE CEO Antonio Neri, and Zoom Video Communications CEO Eric Yuan.

The event is slated to cover a wide array of topics across multiple stages, including Investor Stage and Main Stage, with discussions following web 3, unicorns and tech giant strategies, and user privacy in technology, along with a large variety of tracks, such as EduTech, RetailTech, FinTech, HealthTech, 4IR, Future Energy, and Smart cities.

DeepFest returns for its second edition at LEAP, in partnership with Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA); more than 150 speakers and 120 exhibitors will take part.

AI is the focus of the event. The dawn of AI, foundations and breakthroughs; AI achievements, applications and impact; AI frontier, innovations and emerging technologies; and AI’s future, collaborations, ethics and sustainability will be tacked over the course of the four days.

LEAP will host more than 1,800 global tech exhibitors, such as Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, Cisco, Avaya, SAP, ServiceNow, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Alibaba, and Huawei.

Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Haitham AlOhali said: “We welcome thought leaders, influencers, investors, and innovators from around the world to LEAP. This edition arrives at a time when variables are accelerating, and generative artificial intelligence is a critical turning point at the economic and social levels.”

“The event will feature 10 stages discussing various aspects of technology, including health, education, and e-commerce,” he added.

Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones CEO Muteb Alqani said: “We are keen to present a special experience to our visitors, as we will gather top speakers and tech experts from around the world.”

“This event has been created to empower technology globally; therefore, the upcoming edition brings together the largest tech companies, startups, and investors, all under one roof, which has the potential to lead to numerous investments and launches,” he stated.

Over 1,000 speakers, 600 startups, and 172,000 are expected to attend the event.



EU Says it Agreed with UAE to Launch Free Trade Talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
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EU Says it Agreed with UAE to Launch Free Trade Talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen looks on in Brussels, Belgium, 10 April 2025. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

The European Union said on Thursday it agreed with the United Arab Emirates to launch free trade talks, amid the upheaval and uncertainties created by US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs. He has since walked back some of the tariffs.

“Today, (the European Commission) President von der Leyen held a cordial phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. During their discussion, they agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement,” the EU said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The talks will focus on trade in goods, services, investment and deepening cooperation in strategic sectors including renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials, the EU said.

The UAE's president said the decision to initiate negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU reflects a shared determination to unlock the full potential of cooperation and advance their economic, trade, and investment ties in support of development aims.

“The CEPA would create new avenues for cooperation between the UAE and EU, increase trade and investment flows, and strengthen partnerships between the business communities of both sides,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on his X account.

He emphasized that UAE-EU relations are founded on a common vision of stability, growth, and prosperity.

By reducing tariffs and unnecessary trade barriers and improving market access for goods and services, the pact is expected to foster opportunities in key sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and artificial intelligence, UAE's state news agency (WAM) said.

The EU is the UAE's second-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3% of the Emirati total non-oil trade. The wealthy Gulf state is also the EU’s largest export destination and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa, WAM added on Thursday.