LEAP’s expansion into Hong Kong represents more than the international growth of a Saudi-born technology event. It has created a new platform connecting investors, businesses, policymakers and innovators across Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

The inaugural LEAP East brought together more than 25,000 attendees, 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, 300 startups and 600 investors representing more than US$6.5 trillion in assets under management, according to organisers.

Hong Kong was selected as LEAP’s first international destination, building on the event’s rapid growth since its launch in Riyadh in 2022 and reflecting the strengthening economic relationship between the Gulf and Asia.

A bridge between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong

The significance of that relationship was underlined by the participation of Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, H.E. Abdullah Alswaha — two senior government figures whose presence placed technology, investment and cross-border collaboration at the heart of the event. Both were among the senior government leaders featured in the LEAP East programme.

Paul Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s potential role as a gateway for Saudi and Gulf businesses seeking access to mainland China and other Asian markets, while providing Asian technology and advanced manufacturing companies with a route into Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

Abdullah Alswaha’s participation alongside senior Hong Kong officials reinforced the government-level support behind an initiative designed to deepen ties between two increasingly important technology and investment ecosystems.

That positioning is central to LEAP East. Developed in partnership with Hong Kong’s Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the event was designed to connect technology leaders, investors, policymakers and enterprises across Asia, the Middle East and global markets, with investment, partnerships and cross-border collaboration at its core.

AI takes centre stage

Artificial intelligence emerged as one of LEAP East’s defining themes, alongside fintech, smart cities, biotechnology and digital infrastructure.

DeepFest brought LEAP’s dedicated AI and deep-tech platform to Asia, with the wider programme focusing on the shift from experimentation towards the real-world deployment of emerging technologies. The official programme positioned AI and deep tech among LEAP East’s key high-growth, investment-relevant sectors.

The programme drew senior figures from international technology, finance and government, including representatives from companies and organisations such as Adobe, Microsoft, Sony AI, Mastercard, Huawei, Ant International, Standard Chartered and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing.

Saudi organisations also had a visible presence, illustrating the two-way nature of the relationship and creating opportunities for companies, capital and expertise to move between the Middle East and Asia.

Investment without borders

Investment and entrepreneurship were equally central to LEAP East, with 600 investors and 300 startups participating.

The event provided a meeting point for founders seeking capital and international expansion, investors looking for emerging opportunities, and established companies exploring partnerships and entry into new markets.

That model reflects LEAP East’s wider purpose: connecting Asia’s innovation ecosystem with Middle Eastern investment and global enterprise demand. The original media positioning explicitly described the event as a bridge supporting cross-border engagement and capital flows between the regions.

LEAP’s expansion into Hong Kong also marks an important stage in the international development of a platform established in Saudi Arabia. The event’s Riyadh edition attracted more than 201,000 attendees and 1,900 investors in 2025, while LEAP editions have announced a reported US$44.8 billion in investments since 2022.

Hong Kong is set to remain part of that international story, with LEAP East scheduled to return to the city for the next three years.

Attention turns to Riyadh

Now the focus shifts back to Saudi Arabia.

The fifth edition of LEAP will take place in Riyadh from 31 August to 3 September 2026, bringing the global technology community back to the city where the LEAP story began.

Organisers expect more than 201,000 attendees, 1,800 global technology brands, 1,000 speakers, 600 startups and 1,900 investors, providing the next stage for the investment, innovation and international partnerships that have driven LEAP’s rapid growth.

Inside Saudi will be following LEAP 2026 next week, examining the companies, investment, technologies and partnerships shaping the Kingdom’s next phase of digital growth.