LEAP East 2026 Concludes as Hong Kong's Largest Inaugural Tech Summit, Securing Three-Year Deal

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has celebrated the successful conclusion of LEAP East 2026, the historic Asian debut of Saudi Arabia's premier technology conference brand, LEAP. The three-day event, held from July 12 to 14, utilized over 35,000 square meters of rentable space across Hall 1 and Hall 3, positioning itself as a global bridge on the Victoria Harbour waterfront. The summit brought together 300 startups and 600 investors, collectively representing more than US$6.5 trillion in assets under management.

HML welcomed the first flagship edition of LEAP held outside the Middle East, marking it as Hong Kong's largest-ever inaugural technology event. The summit attracted over 25,000 professionals, policymakers, and investors, with a mix of 55% international and Chinese Mainland participants and 45% local attendees. Ms Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, highlighted the event's significance: "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." She noted the strong collaboration between the governments of Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and expressed delight that LEAP East is among the major events that have shown a strong desire to return to the HKCEC with larger scale.

Ms Lee-Müller emphasized HML's commitment to supporting Hong Kong's strategic development plans by positioning the HKCEC as a leading platform for diverse industries to showcase achievements and unlock opportunities. The venue's world-class facilities and professional services reinforce Hong Kong's status as the premier MICE hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Additionally, the HKCEC has earned the distinction of being the first venue accredited as a Gold-standard Muslim-Friendly MICE Venue, contributing to the success of LEAP East by providing halal dining options, dedicated bilateral meeting rooms, and prayer facilities.

Ms Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf and co-creator of LEAP, described LEAP East as "far more than just an event; it is a bridge to the wider technology ecosystem." She cited synergies between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong in shared ambitions and thriving technology hubs across AI, FinTech, and beyond. The HKCEC proved to be the ideal venue, with outstanding facilities that cater to diverse needs. HML applauds Tahaluf's commitment to making Hong Kong the exclusive Asian host city for LEAP East through a three-year run, with the event set to return to the HKCEC in 2027.

The success of LEAP East underscores Hong Kong's strategic importance as a global innovation and technology hub. The event's drawing power and the three-year deal with Tahaluf highlight the city's ability to host world-class technology summits, attracting international investors and startups. For more information, visit HKCEC website and follow on LinkedIn.