Taiwan Excellence Makes Its Debut at LEAP 2026 in Saudi Arabia, Creating New Opportunities for Taiwan-Saudi Technology Cooperation
Saudi Arabia’s leading technology exhibition, LEAP 2026, opened on August 31, with Taiwan Excellence making its debut at the event this year. Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chih-Ping Chang, said Saudi Arabia aims to increase the total capacity of its data centers to 1.5 GW by 2030 and to reach 6.6 GW within the next decade, creating significant new opportunities for Taiwanese companies to expand cooperation in the Saudi market.
The Leading Exhibition and Conference for Technology and Innovation (LEAP) is the largest advanced technology event in the Middle East. LEAP 2026 is being held from August 31 to September 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, serving as a major technology platform for the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy and accelerate digital transformation.
In response to Saudi Arabia’s growing demand for a smart and digital economy, Taiwan Excellence, the national-level industrial brand jointly promoted by the International Trade Administration (ITA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), is making its first appearance at LEAP this year. The initiative aims to actively pursue business opportunities arising from Saudi Arabia’s “Sovereign AI” development and digital transformation under Saudi Vision 2030.
TAITRA Chairman James C. F. Huang and Representative Chih-Ping Chang jointly attended the Taiwan Excellence Presentation and the opening ceremony of the New Taipei City Export Promotion Delegation.
Chang said that Saudi Arabia has designated 2026 as the “Year of AI” and aims to expand the total capacity of its data centers to 1.5 GW by 2030, with the goal of reaching 6.6 GW within 10 years.
In an interview with the Central News Agency (CNA), Chang noted that Saudi Arabia is actively promoting economic diversification and industrial transformation in pursuit of the objectives of Vision 2030, creating new opportunities for Taiwanese companies. At the same time, Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia are increasingly focusing on the development of AI and the digital economy. This represents a major advantage for Taiwan, as Taiwanese companies form an important part of the global supply chains for these high-tech industries.
Chang emphasized that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Saudi Arabia will make every effort to assist Taiwanese companies in expanding into the Saudi market, deepening Taiwan-Saudi economic and trade cooperation, and successfully tapping into business opportunities arising from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Chang also expressed his hope that the exhibition would further strengthen the connection between the industries of New Taipei City and Saudi Arabia’s development priorities under Vision 2030, creating mutually beneficial and win-win opportunities for both sides.
Huang emphasized that computing power has become a strategic asset for countries around the world, while Taiwan has emerged as a “global AI technology hub.” Taiwan possesses comprehensive capabilities spanning core computing, hardware manufacturing, system integration, and end-user applications. By leveraging these strengths, Taiwan can complement Saudi Arabia’s development needs and become a trusted long-term partner for the Kingdom.
As Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate digital transformation, smart-city development, and the adoption of emerging technologies, Taiwanese companies enjoy significant advantages in integrating their capabilities in ICT, AI, smart manufacturing, and digital solutions with Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving technology ecosystem. The potential for future cooperation between the two sides is therefore highly promising.
According to a press release issued by TAITRA, Taiwan Excellence held an industry presentation on the first day of the exhibition under the theme “LEAP into the Future with Taiwan Excellence.” Four Taiwan Excellence Award-winning companies—ASUS, Pegatron, Advantech, and AAEON—shared how Taiwan’s advanced technologies can respond to the rapidly growing demand for digital transformation in the Middle East.
TAITRA said the Taiwan Excellence exhibition area is organized around three major themes: “AI Computing & Networking Infrastructure,” “Industrial Edge & Smart Applications,” and “Smart Mobility & Digital Lifestyle.” The showcased products are specifically designed to address the region’s unique environmental conditions and policy priorities.
The presentation attracted representatives from major Saudi media outlets, including SABQ, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest media organizations, as well as Al Madina and the prominent business and political newspaper Al-Bilad Newspaper. Journalists and major buyers from Saudi Arabia also attended the event to engage in discussions and explore potential business opportunities with the participating Taiwanese companies.
