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Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco, said that the Middle East and North Africa have entered the implementation phase for artificial intelligence projects, citing the activation of infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the expansion of skills programs and digital projects in Egypt and Morocco.
LEAP 2026 concluded in Riyadh with announcements, investments, and agreements totaling nearly $15 billion, focused primarily on artificial intelligence, data centers, and cloud services. Key commitments include the AWS cloud region in the Kingdom, the expansion of AWS’s partnership with HUMAIN, and programs to train and provide AI tools to millions of beneficiaries.
Humain and DataVolt have begun construction of an AI-ready data center in Oxagon, NEOM, with the first 100 megawatts expected to enter service during 2028. The project represents the first phase of a planned complex with total capacity of up to 1.5 gigawatts.
Microsoft intends to make the Saudi Arabia East data center region available to customers in Saudi Arabia starting in November 2026, with three availability zones to support the hosting of eligible workloads locally. The company links the move to the expanding use of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, alongside programs to develop skills and build a local technology ecosystem.
AWS announced that its first cloud infrastructure region in Saudi Arabia is on schedule for launch in December 2026, with a planned investment exceeding $5.3 billion. In cooperation with HUMAIN, the company will also provide up to 50 megawatts of computing capacity in the Kingdom’s first artificial intelligence region by 2028.
The fifth edition of the LEAP conference launches in Riyadh on August 31, 2026, with the participation of 1,289 investors and more than 100 finalist startups in the Rocket Fuel competition. The event combines AI sessions with demonstrations of robotics, autonomous mobility, and gaming, alongside an expanded program of events across the capital.
MOZN has received a strategic investment from HUMAIN alongside a partnership to develop sovereign AI solutions for financial institutions and the public sector. The first phase focuses on financial crime prevention, knowledge intelligence, governance, risk and compliance, with the first applications to be unveiled at LEAP Riyadh and broader commercial availability planned for the second half of 2026.