LEAP East wraps up three day successful event in Hong Kong

Connecting the Middle East & Asia to the world

LEAP East’s debut three-day edition in Hong Kong ended on July 10, bringing together 25,000 guests, 340 presenters, 450 exhibitors, 300 startups, and 600 investors representing over US$6.5 trillion in assets under management.

LEAP East was established to connect the Middle East’s largest economy with one of Asia’s leading international financial centres. It brought together capital, technology companies, founders, and policymakers to accelerate investment, commercial partnerships, and innovation between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Asia.

              Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology met with companies including Tencent, Tencent Cloud, SenseTime and Sony AI, among others.

 

With 55% foreign and 45% local participation, the event drew governments, investors, technology businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs from Asia, the Middle East, and other worldwide markets. The debut edition was more than five times the size of a normal new event in Hong Kong, indicating a growing appetite for stronger technological and investment ties between the two regions.

Following a strong response to its inaugural edition, the Innovation, Technology, and Industry Bureau (ITIB), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), and organiser Tahaluf announced a three-year strategic partnership, securing Hong Kong as LEAP East’s exclusive Asian host city for the next three years, with the event returning in December 2027.

Tahaluf, headquartered in Riyadh, is a joint venture between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity Programming and Drones and the Events Investment Fund. Sela, the Saudi owned event production company known for creating world class experiences, is also set to join the venture.

 

 

The Event Highlights

 

Over three days, LEAP East hosted high-level government and industry engagement, investment conversations, business matchmaking, and startup competitions, as well as a program covering artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, smart cities, finance, and new technologies.

Highlights of LEAP East 2026 included :

• High-level engagement strengthened Saudi-Hong Kong technology and investment ties: H.E. Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, met with the Hon. John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hon. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Prof. Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and senior representatives from Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), alongside technology companies including SenseTime, Tencent, Tencent Cloud and Sony AI.

The sessions enhanced Saudi Arabia-Hong Kong cooperation in areas such as technological investment,innovation,and potential for broader economic partnership between the GCC and Asian countries.

• Three startups received US$100,000 in equity-free funding through Rocket Fuel, LEAP’s flagship startup competition that pitted young companies against an international judging panel and global investors. This year’s winners are Finland’s ROTOBOOST, Saudi Arabia’s Uvera Inc, and Hong Kong’s Meinong Robot, who will get a total US$100,000 in equity-free capital to help them grow and expand internationally.
• Hong Kong confirmed as LEAP East’s exclusive Asian host city for the next three years: ITIB and HKTB announced a three-year strategic partnership with Tahaluf that will see LEAP East continue to take place in Hong Kong, providing a long-term platform to connect capital, technology, and innovation between Asia and the Middle East.

 

 

Comments from Senior Executives

 

Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of The Hong Kong Tourism Board, said “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. 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, as well as its role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’. 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.”

Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, said: “LEAP East has exceeded expectations as a premier meeting point for the global technology ecosystem. The scale of engagement, quality of conversations and level of investment interest underline Hong Kong’s strategic importance as a bridge between Asia and the Middle East. The partnerships and investment commitments announced this week reflect the real business outcomes generated by the event, and we are excited to return in 2027 with an even bigger platform for innovation, investment and growth.”