LEAP 2026 Cloud Push: Microsoft says its new Azure cloud data centre region in Saudi Arabia East will be available to customers in November, with three availability zones for local hosting of government and enterprise workloads and AI. Enterprise AI at Scale: AMD and Humain (PIF) launched “AI in a Box” for Saudi companies, aiming to make entry-level AI deployments easier without hyperscale infrastructure. AI Tool Access for Millions: Adobe, with MCIT and Humain, is giving about 27 million eligible people in Saudi free access for 12 months to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium, with expanded Arabic support. AI Infrastructure Ecosystem: NTT DATA plans an “AI Factory Lab” in Riyadh to help organizations scale AI using partner tech like Cisco and Nvidia, while Qualcomm and KAUST are teaming up to strengthen Saudi 6G and Edge AI talent pipelines. Cyber Resilience: Mindware and Veeam partnered to distribute backup and recovery solutions across the Middle East, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt and Libya. Regional Security Talks: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Oman’s Sultan Haitham in Jeddah to review bilateral ties and regional security amid heightened US-Iran tensions. Maritime Risk: Saudi crude tankers were reported attacked in the Strait of Hormuz as the region’s shipping and energy outlook faces renewed pressure.