LEAP East Debuts In Hong Kong With The Aim To Strengthen Innovation Ties Between Asia And The Gulf

LEAP East, the inaugural international edition of the Saudi Arabia-born tech event LEAP, opened in Hong Kong on July 8, 2026, bringing together governments, investors, technology companies, and entrepreneurs from across Asia and the Middle East.  

Organized by KSA-headquartered events organizer Tahaluf, the three-day event running until July 10, 2026, is set to see more than 25,000 participants, alongside over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, 300 startups, and 600 investors collectively managing more than US$6.5 trillion in assets. 

Besides examining themes ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and technology diplomacy to cross-border investment and digital innovation, LEAP East is also set to explore how AI, digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and technology diplomacy are shaping economic growth, investment flows, and emerging partnerships between Asia and the Gulf.  

A scene from LEAP East's inaugural 2026 edition.

In a statement, Faisal Bin Saud Al Khamisi, Co-Chairman of the Board of Tahaluf, said, “LEAP began as an event, but it has grown into a movement built on human connection. And now, it is going international. We could not have chosen a more fitting home for this moment than Hong Kong, the gateway to Asia.” 

Mike Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, added, “Tens of thousands of attendees will come together for the first LEAP East, making it more than five times the scale typically seen for a new event launch in Hong Kong. That response tells us there is real demand for stronger connections between Asia and the Gulf. Capital, technology and talent are already moving between the two regions, and LEAP East is here to turn that momentum into innovation, investment, and long-term partnerships.” 

LEAP East’s opening ceremony was led by HE Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Hon. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Prof. Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and Tahaluf’s Al Khamisi. In his address, Alswaha highlighted Asia's expanding role in the global technology landscape, citing its $34 trillion economic output, which represents one-third of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). He also applauded Asia for being the world's largest digital and AI economy, with it boasting of 82 percent of global AI patents.  

HE Abdullah Alswaha, KSA’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, speaking at LEAP East's inaugural 2026 edition.

Meanwhile, Chan and Sun Dong noted Hong Kong's role in strengthening technology and investment ties between Asia and the Gulf, pointing to its international capital markets, expanding innovation ecosystem, and position as a strategic connector to global markets, much like the Kingdom itself. "Both of us are gateways to our respective regions,” Chan pointed out. “There is enormous potential for Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia to do more together, connecting ideas, capital and opportunities across regions and cultures.” 

For his part, Sun Dong outlined the Hong Kong government's continued commitment to innovation and technology, having made three investments totaling more than $3.8 billion, while also noting its startup ecosystem has grown by nearly 40 percent since 2021 to exceed 5,200 startups in 2025. This progress, according to Sun Dong, allows Hong Kong to deepen its engagement with innovation ecosystems around the world, including that of the Kingdom.  

"Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has opened extraordinary opportunities for technological development, digital transformation, and new industries,” Sun Dong explained. “This international gathering reflects the rising global momentum in innovation and technology, and Hong Kong is well-positioned to serve as a superconnector and facilitator for international exchange.”   

All images courtesy Tahaluf.