TA: The Kingdom waits for no one – competing in the global AI economy
My first experience in the Middle East was in 2012. Fourteen years later, I have watched the region move through several phases of transformation. In 2026, the ambition, capital and speed of execution are operating at a different scale.
The fifth edition of LEAP 2026 in Riyadh closed with almost $15 billion in announced investments, partnerships and agreements across artificial intelligence, data centers, cloud computing, technology manufacturing and venture capital. But where is the money going?
The Middle East is shifting from being a consumer of global technology to building technology infrastructure. And for investors, it is a highly appealing market.
The full research note was posted first in the publication "Tomorrow's Affairs" on September 6th 2026
