LEAP East: Saudi Arabia Expands Tech Footprint with AI Meetings in Hong Kong

Saudi Arabia has made bold moves to expand its tech and AI presence in Asia by launching LEAP East 2026 in Hong Kong – the first expansion of the Saudi Arabian LEAP tech platform outside of Riyadh.

What’s New: Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha held a series of bilateral meetings aimed at bolstering partnerships with Hong Kong, expanding cooperation in AI and advanced technologies, and enhancing the technology innovation ecosystem, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Fostering AI Ties

The Details: Alswaha met with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Prof. Sun Dong. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in AI and advanced technology and develop a unified AI ecosystem.

Moreover, Alswaha met with Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) Cordelia Chung. Their discussions focused on collaboration to support startups and foster national talent.

The Saudi Minister also met with Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of SenseTime Dr. Xu Li to discuss deploying advanced deep-learning and AI infrastructure across key Saudi industries.

In his opening address at LEAP East 2026, Alswaha highlighted Saudi Arabia’s robust surge in the AI and advanced technology sectors.

By The Numbers:

• Saudi Arabia’s digital economy has surged by 75% over the past eight years, reaching $139 billion, with the non-oil digital sector now making up 16% of the Kingdom’s GDP.
• Saudi Arabia’s operational data center capacity has surged to 467 megawatts, now accounting for 47% of the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s total capacity.
• The participation of Saudi women in the technology workforce has skyrocketed from 7% to 35%, surpassing the averages of both the European Union and Silicon Valley, while leading globally in AI involvement and empowerment.
• The Kingdom is building 6.9 gigawatts of data center capacity by 2034, with an intermediate target of 3 gigawatts by 2030.
• Saudi Arabia ranks among the world’s fastest nations in provisioning energy specifically for cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, with 12.8 gigawatts of currently available power.

A Pivot to the East

Alswaha also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s major strides towards building one of the world’s most accessible, AI-ready digital infrastructures, cementing its position as a reliable partner in the digital economy bridging the East and West.

He added that the expansion of the LEAP conference to the East underscores the region’s pivotal role as a global hub for shaping the future of technology and artificial intelligence.

The Context: According to the Saudi Minister, the East has evolved into a $34 trillion economic powerhouse, accounting for nearly 30% of global GDP and a $10 trillion digital economy. Meanwhile, its 3.7 billion population represents about 46% of the global total.

He also emphasized that the East is building the physical and intellectual architecture of the AI era. The region has cemented its position as the primary hub for global computing engines, driving 82% of worldwide AI patents, in addition to hosting 60% of the semiconductor market, and manufacturing 90% of the world’s most advanced chips.