HONG KONG has secured the rights to host the next three editions of LEAP East, adding gusto to the city’s position as a regional technology and innovation hub.
The agreement was announced as the Asia debut of LEAP East 2026, the first edition of the Saudi-born technology conference and exhibition to be staged outside the Middle East, came to a close.
The three-day event, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), drew more than 25,000 professionals, policymakers and investors and was described by officials as the city’s largest inaugural technology event to date.
Under the agreement between Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and organiser Tahaluf, Hong Kong will serve as the exclusive Asian host city for LEAP East for the next three years.
“LEAP East has chosen Hong Kong for its first-ever edition in Asia this year, and we are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with the organiser to secure Hong Kong as the exclusive Asian host city of LEAP East for the coming three years,” HKTB chair Peter Lam said.
“This significant partnership not only demonstrates the global industry’s confidence in Hong Kong, but also affirms Hong Kong’s status as the World’s Meeting Place and a hub for innovation and technology,” he said.
“By bringing together tech and innovation enterprises, investors, research institutions and innovative talent from around the world, Hong Kong is fostering cross-regional and cross-industry collaboration.”
The inaugural LEAP Asia occupied more than 35,000 square metres of exhibition space across HKCEC’s Hall 1 and Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML) said in a statement.
Organisers said the event brought together 300 start-ups and 600 investors managing more than US$6.5 trillion in assets, positioning Hong Kong as a meeting point between global technology companies, investors and innovators.
Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of HKCEC operators HML, said the July 8-10 event attracted a mix of 55 per cent international and mainland Chinese delegates and 45 per cent local attendees.
“The resounding success of LEAP East perfectly demonstrates Hong Kong’s strategic role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ bridging economies, innovation, capital, and cultures.
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“We are deeply grateful for the close collaboration between governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which made this milestone possible,” Lee-Müller said, adding that HKCEC has hosted several major Asia tech-event debuts or brand new events over the past year.
“These events have shown a strong desire to return to the HKCEC next year with larger floor space, bigger crowds, and even bolder ideas – and I am absolutely delighted that LEAP East is among them.”
HML said facilities and services, including prayer rooms and halal catering, helped support the event and contributed to HKCEC becoming the first venue to receive a gold-standard Muslim-friendly certification, a factor that aided the event’s delivery.
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Annabelle Mander, executive vice president of Tahaluf and co-creator of LEAP, said: “LEAP East is far more than just an event; it is a bridge to the wider technology ecosystem.
“We see immense synergies between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, particularly in their shared ambitions and thriving technology hubs across AI, FinTech, and beyond.
“Hong Kong was the natural choice to launch a brand like LEAP, and the HKCEC has proven to be the ideal venue to foster collaboration and innovation.”
Main image… The first LEAP event in Asia and the next three editions bode well for Saudi-Hong Kong relations
Picture credits: CK Lam Photography/HKTB
