By Yazeed Sheqem, Chief Growth Officer at TolaData & MENA Lead at Athena Infonomics
Stepping into the energy of LEAP 2026 in Riyadh felt less like attending a tech conference and more like stepping into a region actively constructing its future in real time. Walking the floor, the sheer velocity of Saudi Arabia’s technology landscape was impossible to miss. Representing TolaData, alongside Athena Infonomics and Aplyd, our primary goal was to explore how adaptive monitoring frameworks, data infrastructure, and strategic tech execution can support the Kingdom’s digital trajectory.
Saudi Arabia is easily one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-developing markets, but it comes with its own distinct specificities. Off-the-shelf, boilerplate solutions simply do not cut it here. Driving lasting value requires deep local thinking—understanding institutional workflows, governance structures, and strategic national priorities—blended seamlessly with global best practices.
This balance is nowhere more critical than in the public sector. Government entities across the region aren’t just adopting digital tools for convenience; they are building sophisticated, outcome-driven governance ecosystems that require rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and data integration. Positioning TolaData’s performance tracking capabilities together with Athena Infonomics’ analytical depth and Aplyd’s technical implementation resonated strongly throughout our conversations with sector leaders.
Beyond the formal sessions and tech showcases, the real highlight of the trip was human. Reconnecting with long-standing partners, establishing new collaborative relationships, and catching up with friends amidst the hustle of the expo floor grounded the whole experience. Technology builds the infrastructure, but shared trust and aligned vision are what actually drive transformation.
Leaving Riyadh, the core takeaway is clear: succeeding in high-growth environments demands hyper-local relevance paired with international standards. We’re excited to keep building these bridges, bringing global best practices to local impact across the region.
