36Kr Global · Event | From Riyadh to Hong Kong, the Premier Tech Event LEAP is Set to Host Its First APAC Stop in July

From July 8th to 10th, LEAP, a highly influential technology event in the Middle East, will for the first time leave Saudi Arabia and land in Hong Kong, the first stop in the Asia-Pacific region. LEAP East 2026 is committed to providing a strategic platform for Chinese companies going global to connect with the technology ecosystems in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and the world. The exhibition will bring together top global technology leaders, innovators, and investors to jointly explore development opportunities in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, fintech, smart cities, and life sciences.

Core information of the exhibition:

• Time: July 8th - 10th, 2026
• Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
• Scale: It is expected to have over 300 speakers, more than 300 exhibitors, and thousands of participants from around the world.

If you are interested in attending LEAP East, you can scan the QR code below, visit the official website of LEAP East, and register for an event pass.

LEAP lands in the Asia-Pacific for the first time, and Hong Kong becomes a new hub for technology dialogue

Since its launch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2022, LEAP has become one of the largest technology events in the Middle East. It has cumulatively facilitated major investment and cooperation projects worth over $44.8 billion, attracting wide attention from global technology giants, startups, and investment institutions. The selection of Hong Kong as the first stop in the Asia-Pacific for LEAP East marks an important strategic expansion of this global technology brand. It aims to leverage Hong Kong's unique position as an international financial center and a hub for technological innovation to build a bridge between the vibrant technology regions of the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

LEAP East is jointly organized by Saudi Tahaluf, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP). The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government serves as the official Hong Kong government partner, and major enterprises such as Saudi telecom giant stc and NHC Innovation are among the main partners. The exhibition will set up multiple international pavilions, including those from the UK, India, Pakistan, and Zhejiang, China, fully demonstrating its global vision and regional connectivity.

For Chinese companies going global, the strategic value of LEAP East is manifested in multiple dimensions.

• Firstly, there are market expansion opportunities. The exhibition brings together technology companies and investors from the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and the global market, providing Chinese companies with a direct window to access the rapidly growing Middle East market. The Middle East is vigorously promoting digital transformation and technological innovation. National strategies such as Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" have created huge market demand for technology companies. Chinese companies' technological accumulation in fields such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, and fintech is highly compatible with the market demand in the Middle East.
• Secondly, there are cross-border investment and financing opportunities. LEAP East has specifically established an investor program, including roundtable discussions, workshops, and one-on-one matching activities, aiming to connect global venture capitalists, angel investors, and startups. For Chinese startups seeking international development, this is an excellent opportunity to enhance their international brand awareness, obtain key financing, and enter new markets.

Top-notch guests gather to focus on cutting-edge technology topics

The lineup of speakers at this exhibition is truly impressive, bringing together leading figures from the global technology, finance, life sciences, and other fields. The complete list of speakers was announced in January, and currently, 65 speakers from 25 fields have confirmed their attendance, including:

• Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia | H.E. Abdullah Alswaha
• Director-General of the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency | Liu Kaixuan
• Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund | Zhou Luomeiqi
• President of Sony AI | Michael Spranger
• Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute | Dr. Engineer Sun Yaoda
• Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rebellions AI | Sunghyun Park
• Chief Executive Officer of J.P. Morgan in Hong Kong and Chairman of North Asia | Guan Jinxing
• Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation | Huang Bingxiu
• Founding Managing Partner of Yuhui Capital | Chen Yinglan
• International Chief Executive Officer of Zhipu AI | Lin Chaoting
• Chief Executive Officer of Wisdom Interconnect | Dr. Xiang Yanping
• President of Adobe Asia-Pacific and Japan | Ben Goodman
• Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HAIROBOTICS | Chen Yuqi
• Chief Executive Officer of Octopus Group | Ying Tianqi
• Chief Revenue Officer of Airwallex | Wu Kai
• President of Rakuten Medical | Maeda Yo
• Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Insilico Medicine | Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov
• Chief Privacy Officer of Wipro | Ivana Bartoletti

It is reported that the speech topics will cover multiple cutting-edge fields such as creative intelligence, unmanned logistics, smart cities, fintech, artificial intelligence, Web3, and life sciences, providing participants with comprehensive industry insights.

The exhibition will also provide rich social and business networking opportunities. The exclusive event "LEAP East Night" will create a high-end platform for participants to expand their network, helping companies establish in-depth connections with industry leaders, investors, and potential partners. Through face-to-face communication, companies can not only obtain authoritative information on future technology policies, market trends, and technological development but also find specific partners and investment opportunities to turn strategic ideas into practical actions.

Registration channel

For Chinese companies going global, LEAP East is an excellent platform to enter the Middle East market, obtain international financing, and communicate with global technology leaders. In today's increasingly fierce global technology competition and more important cross-border cooperation, seizing this key exhibition connecting the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East may open a new chapter for companies' global development.

If you are interested in attending LEAP East, you can scan the QR code below, visit the official website of LEAP East, and register for an event pass.

Photo | Unsplash

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