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. 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. Positioned on the Victoria Harbour waterfront, the summit served as a global bridge, bringing 300 startups and 600 investors—collectively representing more than US$6.5 trillion in assets under management—under one roof.
HML welcomed the first flagship edition of LEAP ever held outside the Middle East, celebrating its conclusion 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 and 45% local participation. Ms Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, commented, "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 added, "This year, HML has welcomed major Asian debuts or city's first-ever events with tremendous success. These events have shown a strong desire to return to the HKCEC next year with larger floor space, bigger crowds, and even bolder ideas—and I am absolutely delighted that LEAP East is among them."
Ms Lee-Müller emphasized the venue's role in supporting Hong Kong's strategic development plans, stating, "Through our world-class facilities and professional services, the HKCEC plays a pivotal role in reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the premier MICE hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area." She also highlighted the venue's proactive efforts to introduce Muslim-friendly facilities and services, earning the HKCEC the distinction of being the first venue accredited as a Gold-standard Muslim-Friendly MICE Venue. Ms Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf and co-creator of LEAP, commented, "LEAP East is far more than just an event; it is a bridge to the wider technology ecosystem. We see immense synergies between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, particularly in their shared ambitions and thriving technology hubs across AI, FinTech, and beyond." She praised the HKCEC for its outstanding halal dining options, dedicated bilateral meeting rooms, and prayer facilities, saying, "The venue provides everything I could want as both a host and an attendee. It has been perfect for us."
HML applauds Tahaluf's commitment to making Hong Kong the exclusive Asian host city for LEAP East through a three-year run, set to return to HKCEC in 2027. This reinforces Hong Kong's global leadership in innovation and technology. For more information about the HKCEC and its facilities, visit http://www.hkcec.com and follow their LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-convention-and-exhibition-centre/.
