Tech giants from around the world take center-stage at Saudi Arabia’s LEAP conference 

The four-day conference will shed light on artificial intelligence, the digital transformation and advancements in the field of technical and innovative entrepreneurship through immersive learning, storytelling sessions and lectures. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 February 2023
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Tech giants from around the world take center-stage at Saudi Arabia’s LEAP conference 

  • Second edition of the event, being held over Feb. 6-9, to have more than 700 leaders in technology and tech investment in attendance
  • LEAP’s inaugural conference broke the record for largest tech event ever held, with this year looking to be even larger

RIYADH: More than 700 leading experts in technology investment from 50 countries are set to speak during the second edition of the LEAP technology conference, which will take place at Riyadh Front Expo Center from Monday to Thursday.

The conference is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and UAE-based IT services and consulting firm Tahaluf.

It aims to spark discussions on artificial intelligence, the digital transformation and advancements in the field of technical and innovative entrepreneurship through immersive learning, storytelling sessions and lectures.




LEAP will shed light on artificial intelligence, digital transformation and advances in the field of technical and innovative entrepreneurship. (Supplied)

“The first edition of LEAP was surprisingly more than I expected from a debut event. I am excited to see how this edition will make an even greater impact on our industry and the creative economy,” Sujoy Cherian, group CEO of Option 1 Events, an event technology and content company, told Arab News.

“Besides speaking on the panel for future live events, I am honored with the opportunity for a solo session to share my insight on some of the latest in tech for hybrid events and content creation,” he added.

Cherian, a creative technologist and serial entrepreneur, is just one of the hundreds of speakers from more than 400 global and local technology companies speaking at the event.

HIGHLIGHTS

Executives from Saudi Aramco, NEOM, Microsoft, Oracle, Huawei, Zoom, Ericsson and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are among the roster of speakers.

International tech figures include G.V. Ravishankar, managing partner of Sequoia Capital India; Tim Ringel, an investor and advisory board member at Adit Ventures; and William Bao Bean, general partner of venture capital firm SOSV.

Former world boxing champion Anthony Joshua, astronaut Susan Kilrain and West Ham United Football Club vice-chairman Karren Brady to also speak at LEAP.

Executives from leading firms such as Saudi Aramco, NEOM, Microsoft, Oracle, Huawei, Zoom, Ericsson and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are set to deliver speeches during the conference.

Some of the world’s leading tech figures will take to the Investor Stage, including G.V. Ravishankar, the managing partner of Sequoia Capital India, Tim Ringel, an investor and advisory board member at Adit Ventures, and William Bao Bean, general partner of venture capital firm SOSV.




The tech conference will be held in Riyadh. (Supplied/LEAP)

Former world boxing champion Anthony Joshua, astronaut Susan Kilrain and West Ham United Football Club vice-chairman Karren Brady will also speak at the conference.

Some of the talks set to take place at LEAP will shed light on the creative economy, education, retail, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, future energy, smart cities, and health tech.

One of the companies that will discuss the creative economy during one of the many orbital talks is Sparkup, a real-time engagement platform for live streams and hybrid events. “Our experience combines virtual audience technology and interactive live streaming to offer attendees a front-row seat on an event and allow them to react in real-time,” Vincent Bruneau, founder and CEO of Sparkup, told Arab News.

The company is working toward scaling and integrating its real-time engagement platform, bringing the concept into different environments. “It’s quite exciting because virtual and hybrid events are becoming very popular, people are now used to it and it forces you to innovate, to level up your game and imagine what should the next experience be like,” Bruneau said.

The investors’ platform is expected to witness multiple investment deals with global tech industries.

 


Al-Manshiyah carnival in AlUla invites families to enjoy winter weather

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Al-Manshiyah carnival in AlUla invites families to enjoy winter weather

  • Open-air celebration welcomes visitors of all ages

ALULA: As part of the Winter at Tantora festival, which runs until Jan. 10, families in AlUla can enjoy moonlit fun at the Al-Manshiyah Plaza Winter Carnival.

The open-air celebration welcomes visitors of all ages with games, mini parades, live concerts and hands-on workshops, including hat-making and wool crafts. Guests can also browse and purchase handmade goods from local vendors.

Open on weekends from 6 p.m. until midnight for the duration of the festival, the carnival blends AlUla’s rich heritage with contemporary entertainment.

Arab News spoke to Yorgo Saade, a Lebanese national who has lived in AlUla for the past five years and is manager of Lapain Coffee & Bakery.

On the night of the visit, Saade was serving hot drinks and cakes, sharing his trademark energy as a chilly breeze swept through the plaza.

He told Arab News: “Because it’s winter season now, we have winter drinks — hot chocolate, and we have French hazelnut. In Saudi Arabia, people (also) love the hot coffee of the day.

“This is a great carnival. All the families come here for amusement because there is a clown, entertainment, music, and everything. There’s a lot of seating areas.”

Saade is impressed by the historic and geographic significance of the event.

He added: “This park is next to an old, ancient train station, which is no longer in operation. It’s a heritage area  — as you can see with all the old houses.”

The nearby train station, built in the early 20th century, now stands abandoned. It once formed part of the Hejaz Railway, which briefly connected AlUla to a vast regional network of pilgrimage, trade and empire.

Although its use was short-lived, the railway marked AlUla’s first encounter with large-scale modern transportation and industrial architecture.

Decades later, Al-Manshiyah Plaza emerged as the area’s social and administrative center, as residents moved from the Old Town into organized neighborhoods.

While the railway symbolized movement through AlUla, the plaza came to represent the life within it — schools, services, markets and everyday gatherings that shaped a settled community.

Today, Al-Manshiyah Plaza’s atmosphere helps to keep families engaged with activities, and snacks are available throughout the evening.

No ticket is required to enter, and free parking is available. The site is wheelchair accessible, although visitors are advised that the festivities offered include loud noises and flashing lights.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For Saade, the carnival has breathed new life into the historic space, and he added: “There’s a lot of food corners here. As you can see, there’s a lot of children and this is an ancient area. It’s new and old — with food.”