Riyadh Digital Innovation District: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has launched the Riyadh Digital Innovation District to pull in global tech firms and talent, with focus areas including AI & big data, cybersecurity, cloud, IoT, blockchain, and robotics/UAS—aimed at boosting Riyadh’s Vision 2030 digital economy. LEAP 2026 Tech Push: LEAP opens in Riyadh with “Into New Worlds,” bringing 1,800 companies, 600 startups and 1,900 investors, spotlighting AI and emerging tech across sectors like smart cities, space, gaming, and digital infrastructure. Water Tech Deal in Riyadh: Nesma & Partners signed with Saur to jointly develop recycled water infrastructure in Riyadh, combining Saur’s water expertise with Nesma’s local engineering and construction capabilities, with plans to explore digital water solutions beyond the project. Port Expansion: RSGT and CMA CGM inked a $434M deal to develop Terminal 4 at Jeddah Islamic Port, adding up to 2.6M TEUs capacity with deep-water berths and new ship-to-shore cranes. Regional Tech & Security Link: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, while talks also covered agriculture, water management, food security, and technology/research to raise productivity. Solar Efficiency Boost: A KAUST-backed cooling gel for solar panels—tested in Saudi outdoor trials—reportedly improved electricity output by 13% to 19% by keeping panels cooler. Customs Crackdown: Saudi authorities stopped an amphetamine smuggling attempt of 1.95M pills hidden in a lentil shipment from Jordan, using security tech and live detection.