Riyadh: The second day of LEAP 2026 saw the announcement of major investments and launches worth a total of around $2.5 billion, covering data centers, cloud services, technology localization, and research and development, strengthening the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as a global hub for digital infrastructure and advanced technologies in the intelligent era.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al Moammar Information Systems (MIS) topped the day's announcements with a $1.2 billion investment to expand data centers in Saudi Arabia and increase its operational capacity to reach a total capacity of 192 megawatts, supporting growing demand for computing and artificial intelligence services.
NHC Innovation announced the development of data centers in the Khuzam Digital Valley at a value of $880 million, providing integrated digital infrastructure with scalable capacity, targeting 65 megawatts by 2033.
As part of Saudi investment activity globally, Vision Invest and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) are leading a $300 million strategic investment in WIOCC to support the expansion of digital infrastructure in Africa and enhance connectivity and digital services across the continent's markets.
In cloud services, Mobily and BytePlus announced a joint investment of more than $150 million to launch BytePlus cloud services in Saudi Arabia and expand access to advanced solutions for companies and enterprises.
In support of advanced technology localization and national capacity building, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced the expansion of its 'Saudi Made' program from localizing hardware to localizing integrated technology solutions. It also announced the launch of the Saudi Innovation Center in collaboration with Intel to empower startups and national talent in artificial intelligence.
Nokia also announced the opening of its first research and development center in Saudi Arabia to accelerate the development of AI-powered network automation technologies, strengthen research and innovation capabilities, and develop advanced telecommunications solutions from Saudi Arabia.
The second-day announcements reflect the Kingdom's growing appeal to domestic and international technology investment and the expansion of its ecosystem to encompass data centers, cloud services, research and development, and technology localization, while extending the impact of its investments to global markets.
LEAP 2026 will continue through September 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, bringing together technology leaders, investors, innovators and startups from around the world in a program exploring the future of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital infrastructure and advanced technologies.
