--- title: "What to Watch at LEAP 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Operating Agenda for AI - USETECH" description: "Explore Usetech’s focus at LEAP 2026: agentic AI, smart city systems, sovereign AI, B2B automation, data integration, and scalable enterprise operations." canonical: "https://usetech.com/blog/what-to-watch-at-leap-2026-saudi-arabias-operating-agenda-for-ai/" language: "en-US" --- # What to Watch at LEAP 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Operating Agenda for AI Author: Ekaterina Samsonova Published: 26 August, 2026, 15:52 Explore Usetech’s focus at LEAP 2026: agentic AI, smart city systems, sovereign AI, B2B automation, data integration, and scalable enterprise operations. [AI & ML](https://usetech.com/blog/?tags=ai-ml) [Data Integration](https://usetech.com/blog/?tags=data-integration) [Digital Transformation](https://usetech.com/blog/?tags=digital-transformation) [IT Strategy & Architecture](https://usetech.com/blog/?tags=it-strategy-architecture) [Process Automation](https://usetech.com/blog/?tags=process-automation) Share LEAP 2026 has a broad technology programme. Its value for enterprise and public-sector teams lies in the operating questions behind that programme. Across AI, cloud, urban systems and business platforms, the agenda points to a common requirement: technology has to work inside live environments. That requires connected data, clear governance, resilient infrastructure and teams with defined ownership of outcomes. For Usetech, these are the conversations worth following in Riyadh. ## 1. Agentic AI enters enterprise workflows The discussion around agentic AI is moving closer to business processes. The relevant questions concern system access, workflow boundaries, oversight and the decisions that an AI system can support or automate. The panel [**Agentic AI for Business**](https://onegiantleap.com/session/agentic-ai-business) brings together Saudi practitioners working across construction technology, fintech, enterprise voice AI and national AI capability: - [Khalid Alomar](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/khalidalomar), Co-founder and CDO, WhiteHelmet - [Mohammed Alsolami](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedalsolami), CEO, Rabeh - [Khaled Aljuraywi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaled-aljuraywi-b40005211), Co-Founder and COO, Sawt - [Dr. Areeb Alowisheq](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/areeb-alowisheq), Builder, HUMAIN We will be listening for practical views on implementation: which workflows are ready for agents, how organisations establish accountability, and where integration becomes the decisive constraint. This is directly relevant to Usetech’s work with Launch and USEBUS AI-Code. Launch analyses multimodal operational data and detects deviations. USEBUS connects enterprise systems and governs the data flows around them. Both layers matter when AI has to operate within existing processes rather than beside them. ## 2. Smart city systems need trusted intelligence The smart-city agenda is becoming more specific. The central issue is how data from cameras, sensors, transport systems and public platforms can support decisions and coordinated response. The fireside chat [**From Sensors to Sense-Making**](https://onegiantleap.com/session/sensors-sense-making) focuses on the link between city data, AI, cloud infrastructure and human governance. It features: - [Dr. Abdulaziz Alharbi](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/alharbiaziz), Assistant Professor of Management and Information Systems, University of Hail - [Zainab Alamin](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/zainabalamin), VP, Digital Transformation, Microsoft - [Greg Lindsay](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/greg-lindsay-8b16952), expert on cities, mobility, travel, trade and the future of work The question for cities is whether their systems can create a shared operational picture, identify an incident early, provide context and route action to the right service. This is the operating logic behind Usetech’s Smart City portfolio. In a Saudi traffic-safety project, Usetech combined vehicle and journey orchestration, AI-supported traffic and incident analysis, checkpoint automation and a unified operational view. The approach accelerated incident response by up to 70% during high-pressure operating periods. ## 3. Sovereign AI depends on architecture and control Sovereignty is increasingly discussed through data residency, national models and local infrastructure. These are important elements. The operating layer is equally important: how systems are governed, how data moves across environments, how capacity is managed, and how security and resilience are maintained. The discussion [**Architecting Sovereign AI in the Middle East**](https://onegiantleap.com/2026-speakers/abir-habbal) is particularly relevant here. Among its speakers is [Abir Habbal](https://ae.linkedin.com/in/abir-habbal), Middle East Chief AI Officer at Accenture, whose work includes data governance and AI adoption programmes across GCC public-sector environments. The session should provide a useful perspective on how sovereign AI moves from policy ambition into architecture, delivery and operating practice. For Usetech, this connects with Octopus, our on-premises platform for continuous optimisation of CPU, memory and storage across virtual infrastructure. AI workloads require more than available compute. They require visibility, capacity planning and reliable operation under changing demand. ## 4. B2B automation has to work across real business systems Automation becomes commercially meaningful when it reduces friction across transactions, procurement, finance, customer operations and supply chains. This makes the panel [**B2B on Autopilot: Automating Business Operations**](https://onegiantleap.com/session/b2b-autopilot-automating-business-operations) relevant beyond the technology sector. The panel includes: - [Ibrahim Al-Baloud](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/ibrahimalbaloud), CEO, Fathom.io - [Abdullah AlDayel](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-aldayel-dba), Founder and CEO, Qoyod - [Iyad Aldalooj](https://sa.linkedin.com/in/iyad-aldalooj-a0694496), CEO, Penny Software We will be following how the speakers describe the relationship between automation, operating ownership and data quality. B2B systems often involve legacy platforms, multiple counterparties and strict controls. Automation has to accommodate that complexity. The same requirement underpins Usetech’s integration work. USEBUS AI-Code helps organisations connect enterprise systems, build governed data flows and support automation across operational environments. ## What We Will Be Looking For LEAP will bring together many product announcements and technology narratives. Our focus will remain on the operating evidence behind them: - Where does AI already sit inside critical workflows? - How are organisations governing AI outputs and data flows? - What infrastructure is required for resilience and scale? - How do public and urban systems turn data into coordinated action? - Which automation models reduce complexity across real enterprise processes? These questions align with Usetech’s work across AI, integration, infrastructure optimisation, Smart City and Smart Manufacturing. We will be following the sessions, speaking with practitioners and sharing selected observations from Riyadh. Usetech will exhibit at LEAP 2026 at **stand H3.B170, Hall 3**. ### Sources and Further Reading - [LEAP 2026 official website](https://onegiantleap.com/) - [LEAP 2026 speaker programme](https://onegiantleap.com/2026-speakers) - [Saudi Data and AI Authority: The Year of AI 2026](https://sdaia.gov.sa/en/MediaCenter/Pages/ai-year.aspx) - [National Cybersecurity Authority: AI Cybersecurity Guidelines](https://nca.gov.sa/en/news/2354/) ![Portrait of Ekaterina Samsonova](https://usetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ekaterina-Samsonova.jpg) Ekaterina Samsonova Head of PR and Marketing MENA at Usetech 15+ years in B2B/IT marketing, PR, and external communications across MENA, Europe, and Russia ## Let’s work with us. ### Tell us more about your request by leaving the application in the contact form below, and our team will contact you. ## Contact us. ### Our team is ready to assist you – just drop us a message or connect with one of our offices below. ##### Dubai IFZA Business Park Building A2 DDP Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, UAE ##### Hong Kong Des Voeux Rd Central 244-248, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong ##### Contacts ## Tech for business. ### Monthly newsletter with main insights and trends.