Tahaluf
Tahaluf is a Saudi-British events and exhibitions company that develops international business events in Saudi Arabia and selected overseas markets.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Tahaluf is a Saudi-British events and exhibitions company established in 2022 as a joint venture between Informa PLC, the London-based exhibitions and business-intelligence group, and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP). The Arabic name Tahaluf means “alliance,” reflecting the company’s operating model: combining Informa’s international event management capabilities with Saudi public-sector institutions and sector authorities to build large-scale conferences, exhibitions and trade platforms. The company emerged from the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s business-events economy under Vision 2030. Its early development was closely connected to LEAP, a technology conference created in Riyadh in February 2022 by Mike Champion and Annabelle Mander in collaboration with SAFCSP and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The first edition attracted more than 100,000 members of the global technology community, including investors, technology leaders and exhibitors. LEAP became the foundation for a broader portfolio of recurring events spanning technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, finance, real estate, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, maritime activity, aviation, gaming and religious tourism. In November 2022, Tahaluf and SAFCSP co-organised the cybersecurity event now known as Black Hat Middle East and Africa. The event had previously operated under the name @HACK and was rebranded as Black Hat MEA. In 2023, the Events Investment Fund, a National Development Fund subsidiary, acquired a significant stake in Tahaluf. This transaction positioned the company as an important vehicle for developing Saudi Arabia’s conference and exhibition infrastructure and was described as a major events-sector joint venture supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to become an international gathering hub. Tahaluf subsequently expanded beyond technology. In 2023 it entered a three-year arrangement with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing to organise Cityscape Global in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh-based property exhibition became a major meeting point for developers, government bodies, investors, housing institutions and real-estate service providers. Its portfolio also came to include Money20/20 Middle East, the Global Health Exhibition, CPHI Middle East, the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum, 24fintech, DeepFest and other specialist platforms. DeepFest operates as an artificial-intelligence and data-science component of LEAP, with support from the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence. The company’s events are generally delivered through partnerships with Saudi ministries, regulators, government programmes and sector organisations. Partners mentioned in connection with its portfolio include the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, SAFCSP, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the Ministry of Health, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Real Estate General Authority, the Housing Program and the Saudi Tourism Authority. These relationships give Tahaluf access to policy communities and industry stakeholders while allowing public institutions to use exhibitions as platforms for investment, procurement, knowledge exchange and international promotion. By 2025, Tahaluf was described as operating 21 event brands, with further launches planned for technology, healthcare, real estate, finance and religious tourism. It also announced LEAP East, an Asia-Pacific edition of the LEAP technology event, in partnership with EWPartners, scheduled for Hong Kong in July 2026. In December 2025, the company announced Kingdom of Gaming, a planned game-creation ecosystem to be held in Saudi Arabia in December 2026 alongside Black Hat MEA 2026. Tahaluf’s strategic positioning is therefore broader than that of a conventional trade-show organiser: it functions as an events platform intended to internationalise Saudi sector ecosystems, attract visitors and investment, and support the Kingdom’s economic-diversification agenda.
History
Tahaluf was created in 2022 as a joint venture between Informa PLC and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones. Its formation took place during a period in which Saudi Arabia was investing heavily in international conferences and exhibitions as part of its Vision 2030 economic-diversification programme. The company’s name, derived from the Arabic word for alliance, expresses the partnership between an international events operator and Saudi public-sector institutions. The immediate background to Tahaluf was LEAP, a Riyadh technology event developed in February 2022 by Mike Champion and Annabelle Mander with SAFCSP and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The inaugural event drew more than 100,000 professionals, investors, leaders and exhibitors. Its scale established a model in which Saudi Arabia could host globally oriented events while using them to promote technology investment, entrepreneurship and public-sector transformation. Later in 2022, Tahaluf and SAFCSP collaborated on Black Hat Middle East and Africa in Riyadh. The cybersecurity event had originally been launched as @HACK in 2021 and adopted the Black Hat MEA identity in 2022. This partnership extended Tahaluf’s role from operating one flagship technology conference to building a portfolio of specialist international brands. A major ownership change occurred in 2023, when the Events Investment Fund, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund, acquired a significant stake. The transaction gave Tahaluf a closer relationship with Saudi economic-development priorities and was regarded as an important step in establishing a large domestic events-sector platform. In the same year, Tahaluf signed a three-year agreement with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing to organise Cityscape Global in Saudi Arabia. The first Saudi edition took place in Riyadh and expanded the company’s activities into real estate, housing and urban development. Tahaluf continued broadening its portfolio through events such as Money20/20 Middle East, the Global Health Exhibition, CPHI Middle East, the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum and 24fintech. In technology, DeepFest became an artificial-intelligence and data-science component of LEAP, supported by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence. In healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the company worked with relevant authorities and industry participants to create platforms for investment, product discovery and professional exchange. The Umrah and Ziyarah Forum added religious tourism and pilgrimage services to the portfolio, while planned events in gaming, aviation and other sectors indicated an intention to serve multiple pillars of the Saudi economy. The company’s operating model relies on public-private collaboration. Saudi ministries, regulators and government programmes provide institutional support, while Informa contributes event-management systems, international commercial relationships and brand-development experience. Tahaluf’s exhibitions therefore combine trade-show functions with policy forums, investor meetings, business matchmaking and national-sector promotion. By the end of 2025, the company was expected to operate 21 event brands, with five further launches planned for 2026. Its international expansion included LEAP East, announced with Riyadh-based investment firm EWPartners and scheduled for Hong Kong in July 2026. Tahaluf also announced Kingdom of Gaming, planned for December 2026 in Saudi Arabia and intended to create a game-development ecosystem. The company’s history reflects the rapid institutionalisation of Saudi Arabia’s events economy and the use of international exhibitions to attract capital, expertise and visitors while developing domestic industries.
- 2025
LEAP East announced
[1]Tahaluf and EWPartners announced an Asia-Pacific edition of LEAP for Hong Kong in July 2026.
- 2025
Kingdom of Gaming announced
[1]Tahaluf announced a planned game-creation ecosystem event for December 2026.
- 2023
Events Investment Fund takes significant stake
[1]The National Development Fund subsidiary acquired a significant interest in Tahaluf.
- 2023
Cityscape Global agreement signed
[1]Tahaluf agreed to organise Cityscape Global in Saudi Arabia for three years with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.
- 2022
Tahaluf founded
[1]Informa PLC and SAFCSP established Tahaluf as a Saudi-British events and exhibitions joint venture.
- 2022
LEAP launches in Riyadh
[1]The inaugural LEAP technology event attracted more than 100,000 professionals, leaders, investors and exhibitors.
- 2022
Black Hat MEA introduced
[1]The former @HACK cybersecurity event was rebranded as Black Hat Middle East and Africa and co-organised by Tahaluf and SAFCSP.
Products and positioning
A Saudi-based international events platform linking government, business, investors and professional communities through large-scale conferences and exhibitions aligned with Saudi Arabia’s economic-transformation priorities.
Technology event · 2022
LEAP
LEAP is Tahaluf’s flagship technology conference in Saudi Arabia. Organised with SAFCSP and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, it brings together technology companies, investors, government representatives, entrepreneurs and researchers. The event is designed both as a commercial exhibition and as a platform for discussing digital transformation, emerging technologies and investment opportunities.
Cybersecurity conference · 2022
Black Hat Middle East and Africa
Black Hat MEA is an annual Riyadh cybersecurity conference organised with SAFCSP. It evolved from the @HACK event and uses the Black Hat format to provide technical content, training, exhibitions, networking and security-industry engagement for audiences from the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
Real-estate exhibition · 2023
Cityscape Global
Cityscape Global is Tahaluf’s Saudi real-estate exhibition, organised with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing. It connects developers, housing institutions, investors, government bodies and service providers and provides a venue for presenting residential, commercial and urban-development projects.
Fintech conference
Money20/20 Middle East
Money20/20 Middle East is a financial-technology event covering payments, banking, investment, digital finance and related technologies. The event brings together fintech companies, investors, financial institutions, regulators and technology providers in Riyadh.
Healthcare exhibition · 2024
Global Health Exhibition
The Global Health Exhibition is a Saudi healthcare event organised with support from the Ministry of Health and the Health Sector Transformation Program. It provides a marketplace and discussion forum for healthcare providers, medical-technology companies, investors, policymakers and international suppliers.
Pharmaceutical exhibition · 2024
CPHI Middle East
CPHI Middle East brings pharmaceutical manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and healthcare-industry professionals together to discuss production, supply chains, partnerships and market opportunities. Its Riyadh edition has included exhibitors and visitors from multiple countries.
Artificial-intelligence conference
DeepFest
DeepFest is the artificial-intelligence and data-science component associated with LEAP. It is supported by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence and focuses on AI applications, research, enterprise adoption, public-sector use and the wider data economy.
Religious-tourism forum
Umrah and Ziyarah Forum
The Umrah and Ziyarah Forum is a three-day exhibition and conference focused on pilgrimage and religious-tourism services. It brings together tour operators, technology companies, service providers and other organisations involved in improving the visitor and pilgrimage ecosystem.
Brand decisions
2025
International expansion through LEAP EastStrategyBackground
Tahaluf sought to extend the LEAP technology-event concept beyond Saudi Arabia and reach Asia-Pacific technology communities.
Action taken
Tahaluf entered a strategic partnership with EWPartners to launch LEAP East in Hong Kong.
Aftermath
The first LEAP East edition was scheduled for 8–10 July 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
2025
Kingdom of Gaming announcedProduct launchBackground
Saudi Arabia was expanding its technology, entertainment and digital-creation ecosystems.
Action taken
Tahaluf announced Kingdom of Gaming, a planned game-creation ecosystem event to be co-located with Black Hat MEA 2026.
Aftermath
The inaugural event was scheduled for 1–3 December 2026 in Saudi Arabia.
2023
Events Investment Fund investmentM&ABackground
Saudi Arabia was developing a larger domestic and international events economy in support of its economic-transformation programme.
Action taken
The Events Investment Fund, a National Development Fund subsidiary, acquired a significant stake in Tahaluf.
Aftermath
The investment strengthened Tahaluf’s role as a platform for building and scaling international exhibitions and conferences in Saudi Arabia.
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