Riyadh brought three fast-moving technology sectors under one roof on 29 and 30 June 2026 as the Global AI Show, Global Blockchain Show and Global Games Show completed a co-located two-day programme in the Saudi capital.
Organised by VAP Group, the combined gathering recorded more than 15,000 registrations and welcomed 6,723 attendees. It featured over 100 speakers and 100 exhibitors, with delegates arriving from more than 80 countries. Organisers said around 70% of the audience held CXO-level roles, giving the summit a distinctly commercial focus.
Those numbers matter, but the more revealing story was the overlap between the three agendas. Artificial intelligence was discussed as national and enterprise infrastructure. Blockchain shifted away from speculation toward identity, finance and interoperable systems. Gaming became a proving ground for mobile distribution, immersive experiences and digital ownership.
AI Moves From Experimentation to National Infrastructure
The Global AI Show placed agentic AI, sovereign infrastructure and responsible deployment at the centre of the conversation. Sessions examined how governments and enterprises can move beyond isolated pilots and build systems supported by reliable data, governance and a workforce prepared to work alongside autonomous digital agents.
Dr. Mohammed Nasser Alshahrani, Executive Advisor to the Minister at Saudi Arabia’s Council of Economic and Development Affairs, opened the first day with a focus on data quality and trustworthy AI. Nezar Al Turki, Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of National Guard, used the second day’s opening keynote to frame the next phase as a shift from digital transformation to AI transformation.
The programme’s roster of AI leaders included representatives from Saudi government entities, NEOM, 500 Global MENA, D360 Bank, Saudi Aramco, Mozn and other organisations working across healthcare, finance, cybersecurity and workforce development.
This theme aligns with the wider economic diversification and human-capital goals described in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The practical question raised in Riyadh was no longer whether AI would be adopted, but how it could be scaled without sacrificing accountability, security or local capability.
Blockchain’s Pitch Becomes Infrastructure, Not Speculation
At the Global Blockchain Show, the emphasis moved toward enterprise infrastructure: chain abstraction, gasless transactions, tokenised assets, digital identity, cybersecurity and faster cross-border commerce. Speakers argued that blockchain’s next phase will depend on making the technology less visible to users while strengthening the systems operating behind the interface.
Meow, Co-Founder of Jupiter, described the opportunity as combining the strengths of decentralised and traditional finance to create a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem. Shabir Momin, President and Founder of TorusChain, focused on enterprise adoption and the architecture needed for the next generation of decentralised services.
The wider lineup of Web3 speakers spanned fintech, cybersecurity, digital assets and enterprise technology. Their discussions reflected a market trying to prove that blockchain can support real economic activity rather than simply create another layer of financial speculation.
The exhibition floor reinforced that change, with providers presenting solutions for decentralised finance, tokenisation, intelligent infrastructure and secure digital identity. The strongest proposition was not blockchain as a standalone product, but as a component that can connect finance, data and automated services.
Mobile Gaming Becomes a Gateway to the Next Digital Economy
The Global Games Show approached the same convergence from the consumer side. Mobile gaming, AI-assisted development, cloud delivery, AR and VR, esports and digital ownership dominated a programme designed for studios, publishers, investors, technology providers and gaming communities.
Johnson Yeh, Founder and CEO of Ambrus Studio, explored how emerging technologies are expanding player experiences beyond traditional screens. Virginia Villar Arribas of the UN World Food Programme also highlighted gaming’s capacity to support education, awareness and humanitarian initiatives.
The appearance of mobile-first titles and regional esports models showed why the sector has become strategically important. Lower hardware barriers can widen participation, while live operations, automated production and community-led monetisation give developers more ways to sustain audiences. Toktimes previously profiled the event’s gaming leaders ahead of the Riyadh programme.
One Ecosystem, Three Routes to Commercialisation
Across all three shows, the common thread was commercialisation. AI needs trusted data, infrastructure and skilled operators. Blockchain needs seamless onboarding and credible enterprise uses. Gaming needs scalable distribution, durable communities and business models that reward both creators and players.
VAP Group also used the event to introduce VAP Ventures, an initiative that aims to support 100 startups by 2030 across AI, Web3 and gaming. The announcement gave the summit a longer-term investment angle and connected the three conference tracks to a shared startup pipeline.
Riyadh’s triple-event format ultimately offered a useful snapshot of where emerging technology is heading: fewer isolated categories, more connected infrastructure and a sharper focus on execution. The next editions in Abu Dhabi will test how many of the conversations, partnerships and investment leads generated in Saudi Arabia can develop into deployable products.
