11 October 2026 · Guide
Saudi Tech Events This Week: 12–18 October 2026
Riyadh Tech Week editorial desk
Last checked:
Saudi Arabia’s technology calendar is unusually crowded this week. The strongest options span satellite connectivity, cyber threat intelligence, agentic AI, industrial automation, applied AI and deep-tech research across Riyadh, Madinah, Al Khobar and Thuwal.
These are seven events worth knowing about from 12 to 18 October 2026. Every entry below was checked against a first-party organiser page on 11 October. Access can change, so confirm your place with the organiser before travelling.
Seven events to know
Global Space Connectivity & Sustainability Events 2026
- Date
- 12–14 October 2026
- Place
- CST Headquarters, Riyadh
- Access
- Onsite and virtual registration available. No admission fee is published.
CST and the International Telecommunication Union are bringing two established programmes together: Connecting the World from the Skies and the Space Sustainability Forum. The agenda covers non-terrestrial networks, direct-to-device connectivity, the path to 6G, spectrum policy, space debris and responsible use of orbit.
Why it matters: This is the week’s clearest meeting point for regulators, satellite operators, telecoms companies and space researchers.
SANS Community Night: 2026 SANS CTI Survey Insights
- Date
- 12 October 2026, 17:30–18:30 AST
- Place
- Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya and online
- Access
- Free. In-person and virtual registration are available.
Cyber threat intelligence specialist Andreas Sfakianakis will present findings from the 2026 SANS CTI Survey. The session focuses on how security teams are using AI and automation, where CTI programmes are struggling, and how analysts measure whether intelligence is useful.
Why it matters: It is a practical, low-cost option for security practitioners who want current evidence rather than a broad conference programme.
MED AI 2026: Madinah Artificial Intelligence Forum
- Date
- 12–14 October 2026
- Place
- Madinah Chamber, Madinah
- Access
- General visitor registration is free. Workshops and startup participation use separate registration routes.
The forum combines applied AI labs, a bootcamp, a three-day hackathon, startup and corporate exhibitions, and an investment arena. The programme covers AI agents, data analysis, content creation, smart cities and applied innovation in sport, agriculture and tourism.
Why it matters: MED AI gives founders, builders and visitors a broader route into the week than a closed executive summit. It also shows that Saudi AI activity is not confined to Riyadh.
ISA Saudi Automation Conference 2026
- Date
- 12–14 October 2026
- Place
- Kempinski Al Othman Hotel, Al Khobar
- Access
- Registration is open. Several pass types are offered and pricing varies.
The third edition of the ISA Saudi Section conference is built around the theme “Autonomous: Vision to Reality”. Its tracks include industrial control system security, process measurement, automation and safety, data analytics, digital transformation and sustainability.
Why it matters: This is the strongest option this week for industrial technology teams, engineers, students and people working where operational technology meets cybersecurity and data.
Google Cloud Summit Saudi Arabia 2026
- Date
- 13 October 2026, 08:30–18:30 AST
- Place
- Sofitel Riyadh Hotel & Convention Centre, Riyadh
- Access
- Registration is closed according to RTW’s latest verification.
Google Cloud’s Riyadh summit focuses on moving enterprise AI from experimentation into production. The programme covers the Agentic Data Cloud, agent development frameworks, AI security, Agentic SecOps and regional enterprise use cases.
Why it matters: Even with registration closed, the agenda is a useful signal of where enterprise AI demand in Saudi Arabia is moving: agentic systems, data foundations, security and production deployment.
35th Cyber Security Summit Saudi Arabia 2026
- Date
- 15 October 2026, 09:00–17:00 AST
- Place
- Rosh Olaya Hotel, Riyadh
- Access
- Invitation-only. Eligible delegates can submit an enquiry.
The summit is aimed at CISOs, CIOs, security leaders, risk executives, government stakeholders and critical-infrastructure operators. Topics include AI-powered security, cloud security, zero trust, quantum readiness, incident response and enterprise resilience.
Why it matters: The programme is tightly aligned to the security questions Saudi organisations are facing as AI adoption, cloud migration and critical-infrastructure modernisation accelerate.
KAUST Workshop on AI-Enabled Microwave Sensing and Communication
- Date
- 18 October 2026, 08:30–18:45 AST
- Place
- KAUST, Thuwal
- Access
- Registration is open. Fees are not published.
Held alongside IEEE IMAS 2026, this one-day research workshop covers AI-enabled microwave engineering, millimetre-wave imaging, biomedical sensing, wearable radio-frequency systems and integrated sensing and communications. It includes invited talks plus a student and postdoctoral poster session.
Why it matters: It is the week’s most specialised deep-tech option and a strong fit for researchers, engineers, students and teams working across AI, wireless systems and healthcare sensing.
What this week says about Saudi tech
Riyadh still has the largest concentration, but this is not a single-city week. Madinah has a broad applied-AI forum, Al Khobar has a serious industrial automation programme, and KAUST closes the week with specialised research.
Access also varies sharply. SANS and MED AI offer straightforward free entry routes, the Google Cloud Summit is full, and the Cyber Security Summit is invitation-only. Check access before choosing where to spend your time.
How RTW verified this guide
Riyadh Tech Week checks dates, locations, access information and registration routes against first-party organiser pages. We do not use aggregator pages as confirmation, and we do not infer unpublished prices, times or venues.
Last checked: 11 October 2026. Riyadh Tech Week is an independent, unofficial guide and is not the organiser of the events listed above.
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