The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) celebrated the highly successful conclusion of LEAP East 2026, the historic Asian debut of Saudi Arabia's premier technology conference brand, LEAP. Staged over three days at the HKCEC, the inaugural event utilized over 35,000 square meters of rentable space across Hall 1 and Hall 3, attracting 300 startups and 600 investors collectively representing more than US$6.5 trillion in assets under management. The summit drew over 25,000 professionals, policymakers, and investors, with a mix of 55% international and Chinese Mainland and 45% local participation, marking it as Hong Kong's largest-ever inaugural technology event.
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 that HML has welcomed major Asian debuts or city's first-ever events this year, with strong indications of return visits with larger floor space and bigger crowds. LEAP East is among those returning, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a premier MICE hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Ms Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf and co-creator of LEAP, emphasized the synergies between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, particularly in AI, FinTech, and other technology sectors. "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," she said. The venue's facilities, including halal dining options and prayer rooms, were praised for accommodating the needs of international visitors.
HML applauded Tahaluf's commitment to making Hong Kong the exclusive Asian host city for LEAP East through a three-year deal, with the event set to return to HKCEC in 2027. This announcement reinforces Hong Kong's global leadership in innovation and technology. The HKCEC's proactive efforts to introduce Muslim-friendly facilities and services have earned it the distinction of being the first venue accredited as a Gold-standard Muslim-Friendly MICE Venue, contributing to the success of LEAP East. For more information, visit the HKCEC website at http://www.hkcec.com or follow on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-convention-and-exhibition-centre/.
