
LEAP East to debut in Hong Kong in July 2026
Image: Informa
LEAP, the award-winning tech event, is extending its reach into Asia with the launch of LEAP East, an all-new show set to take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 9-11, 2026.
Organised by Tahaluf, the inaugural event will take place in one of the world's most dynamic and culturally diverse cities, Hong Kong, and is expected to draw attention from global tech leaders, innovators, and investors.
The event will offer insights into the future of technology, with over 300 expert speakers and 300 exhibitors set to discuss and demonstrate advancements across multiple industries.
Since its debut, LEAP has enjoyed tremendous support from Asia's tech elite, reinforcing the growing business relationship between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Previous LEAP speakers include Hong Kong's chief executive John Lee, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, and Dr. Kai Fu Lee, chairperson and CEO of Sinovation Ventures. These high-profile participants highlight the expanding synergies between the two regions, as both aim to position themselves as disruptors, adopters, and incubators of technology.
'LEAP East will serve as a catalyst for growing the global tech ecosystem and for Saudi Arabia's status as a global events organizer,' said Faisal AlKhamisi, chairman of SAFCSP. 'With this timely and strategic expansion, we are bringing LEAP's award-winning vision and world-class innovation into this exciting new Hong Kong venture, creating a powerful platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses to connect, collaborate, and build the future of technology.'
LEAP East's highlights
The LEAP East conference will cover emerging technologies such as fintech, gaming, AI, robotics, smart cities, digital transformation, and Web3.
'With an outstanding speaker lineup and an exhibition floor featuring the latest technological advancements, attendees will gain first-hand insights into the evolving tech landscape,' said Champion. 'We are building on the success we've had in Riyadh, where LEAP 2025 saw over 200,000 attendees. LEAP East will foster a dynamic environment where investors, policymakers, and tech leaders converge to shape the future of innovation.'
Innovation tracks and immersive experiences
One of the key highlights of LEAP East will be the Orbital tracks, which will provide deep dives into critical areas like fintech and the creative economy. Another focal point will be DeepFest, a hub for AI, robotics, and deep tech, where industry experts will discuss breakthroughs that promise to redefine multiple sectors.
Additionally, LEAP East will feature an immersive Tech Arena offering live demonstrations and interactive experiences. This space aims to provide attendees with a glimpse into the future of tech applications.
'Our focus with LEAP East is on driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of technology on a global scale,' said Annabelle Mander, Executive VP of Tahaluf. 'This is the first of LEAP's expansions outside Saudi Arabia, and it will undoubtedly be an electrifying experience at the forefront of technological transformation.'
Networking, investment, and startup opportunities
Networking is set to be a cornerstone of LEAP East, with exclusive events like LEAP East Nights, offering opportunities to connect in Hong Kong's most prestigious venues. Beyond business, the event will feature a VR Experience Zone, interactive art installations, drone racing, and a fully robotic kitchen, blending technology with everyday life.
Building on the success of
'Hong Kong, with its robust infrastructure and access to global capital, is an ideal host for this initiative, offering startups the resources needed to scale their businesses,' added Champion.
A major feature of LEAP East will be its Investor Programme, designed to connect venture capitalists and angel investors with startups aligned with their portfolios. With insights from over 60 investors, the programme will provide critical tools for making forward-thinking investments.
LEAP East is poised to become a landmark event in the tech world, positioning Hong Kong as a central player in shaping the future of global innovation.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
10 hours ago
- Arabian Post
TikTok Eliminates #SkinnyTok Amid Mounting Pressure Over Harmful Diet Content
TikTok has removed the hashtag #SkinnyTok from its platform, responding to escalating concerns over content promoting extreme weight loss and disordered eating behaviours. Users searching for the term are now redirected to resources offering support for body image and eating disorders. The decision follows sustained scrutiny from European regulators, particularly in France, where officials have criticised the platform for enabling the spread of content that glamorises unhealthy body standards. Clara Chappaz, France's Minister for Digital Affairs, characterised the removal as a 'collective victory' and reiterated her commitment to safeguarding minors online. TikTok stated that the hashtag had become associated with content violating its community guidelines by promoting dangerous dieting practices, including extreme calorie restriction and excessive water consumption. Although the platform had previously attempted to mitigate exposure by restricting such content to users over 18 and adjusting search suggestions, many harmful videos continued to circulate. ADVERTISEMENT The platform has faced criticism for featuring influencers like Liv Schmidt, who promoted these dangerous practices. Her content was eventually removed after media scrutiny, and she later lost her monetisation privileges on Instagram as well. Despite the removal of the hashtag, concerns persist. Typing 'SkinnyTok' into the app now redirects users to wellness advice, but similar harmful content still thrives under altered or misspelled hashtags. Advocates argue that while the ban is a positive step, it is insufficient to address the broader issue of harmful content on the platform. TikTok's actions come amid a broader push by the European Union to hold social media platforms accountable for harmful content. The European Commission has been investigating TikTok's risk management of addictive design and harmful content since February 2024. The platform's decision to ban #SkinnyTok may be seen as an effort to demonstrate compliance with regulatory expectations. Experts warn that the proliferation of content promoting disordered eating on social media platforms like TikTok can have serious consequences for young users' mental health. Studies have shown that exposure to such content can lead to increased body dissatisfaction and a higher risk of developing eating disorders. Health professionals emphasise the need for more robust content moderation and greater awareness of the dangers posed by these online communities.


Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Streaming trends 2025: Are weekly episodes replacing the binge?
For years, streaming taught us to binge. Entire seasons dropped in one go, the 'Next Episode' button eliminated cliffhanger suspense, and weekend marathons became the norm. But now, something surprising is happening — especially among Gen Z: the weekly drop is back, and it's not just working — it's winning. Take The Last of Us Season 2 on OSN+, a gritty, emotionally devastating post-apocalyptic series that concluded after a seven-week run on May 26 in the UAE, becoming a Monday ritual across the Middle East. The show didn't just dominate timelines — it's dominated time. One episode a week. No skipping ahead. No spoilers unless you dare. What changed? This is the generation long believed to crave instant gratification — the same cohort known for skipping intros, doubling playback speed, and abandoning a series two minutes in. Yet they're showing up week after week for slow-burn television, emotionally raw narratives, and serialised suspense. Why? Because binge culture may have offered control, but the weekly drop delivers community. According to OSN+, Gen Z viewers in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) are choosing weekly drops over binge dumps; 47 of the top 50 most in-demand shows in early 2023 in MENA followed a weekly or staggered release model. TikTok and the rise of episodic attention Ironically, the same Gen Z that's glued to TikTok's short-form content is helping drive this shift. TikTok, once known for its 15-second dopamine hits, has evolved into a platform of mini-episodic storytelling. Viral multi-part sagas like the 'Who Did I Marry?' series or real-life 'Storytime' confessions span five, ten, sometimes twenty clips — and viewers stick around. These aren't just passive watches; they're participatory. Viewers stitch reactions, drop theories, and stay hooked until the final reveal. Sound familiar? It's the same energy fueling weekly appointment TV. In Gen Z's own vernacular, 'it's giving… community.' Weekly drops vs. the binge: What platforms are doing Streaming services have started to take notice and vary their release strategies accordingly: Netflix remains synonymous with binge culture (Bridgerton, Baby Reindeer, Selling Sunset) — often dropping entire seasons at once. But it has flirted with the weekly format for reality shows like The Circle and Love Is Blind, using cliffhangers and staggered episodes to fuel online buzz. It also drops seasons in parts; for instance, makers of Stranger Things released seven episodes of their hit show's fourth season on May 27, 2022, and the remaining two episodes on July 1, 2022. Disney+ almost exclusively releases episodes weekly for major titles like The Mandalorian, Loki, and The Acolyte, leaning into fandom discussion and long-tail engagement. Amazon Prime Video often uses a hybrid model. Shows like The Boys and Invincible premiere with two or three episodes, then shift to weekly drops. HBO/Max (and by extension OSN+ in the Middle East) is a purist in this space, famously championing weekly releases for shows like House of the Dragon, and now The Last of Us. The result? A groundswell of online chatter, theories, and emotional build-up that just doesn't happen with full-season dumps. Each model serves a purpose, but there's a growing appetite for the slow-burn — especially when the story deserves space to breathe. When The Last of Us S2 premiered on OSN+, fans weren't just watching — they were posting, reacting, and predicting. Major character arcs — like the divisive arrival of Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever), or the emotionally loaded moments with Joel (Pedro Pascal) — became weekly conversation starters. TikTok exploded with edits and think pieces; Reddit threads broke down symbolism, flashbacks, even line delivery. This isn't just consumption — it's participation. Each episode becomes a cultural event, a shared pause in the chaos of content overload. And in a world where everything moves fast, the wait becomes a feature, not a flaw. The return of the weekly drop isn't just a throwback — it's a digital coping mechanism. It builds anticipation. It invites reflection. It lets stories sink in. For a generation bombarded with stimuli, the wait might just be the magic. Binge culture trained us to race. Weekly TV is teaching us to feel. What do you prefer? Binge watching or weekly episode drops.


Broadcast Pro
2 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
How Shorts, Reels, and Stories are Changing the Way Sports Fans Consume Content in MENA
Entertainment as we know it is changing. And changing fast. Screens once dominated by full-length broadcasts have transformed into rapid-fire feeds of reels, shorts, and stories. Entertainment as we know it is changing. And changing fast. Screens once dominated by full-length broadcasts have transformed into rapid-fire feeds of reels, shorts, and stories. To help sports rights holders keep up with fans' unquenchable thirst for content, WSC Sports developed the industry's leading platform for creating innovative AI-tailored content experiences that help organizations deepen the connection with their fans. To get a better understanding of the latest content trends, we analyzed data from over 550 of the world's leading sports rights owners that use our platform. According to the data, the average length of videos created by sports rights holders on the WSC Sports platform has decreased by 24% year over year to an average of 1:11 minutes. In the MENA region, the average video length is just 1:05–-almost a 10% difference compared to the rest of the world. Even websites and streaming apps traditionally associated with long-form video are being affected by this shift. YouTube Shorts, for instance, now account for over 20% of all videos uploaded to the platform. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Stories across have conditioned fans to expect fast, punchy, highly engaging content—especially in sports, where every second can feel like a highlight. Impact on the Sports Industry For sports rights holders it's a signal to adapt quickly, if you haven't already. Long-form content will always have its place, especially for live broadcasts and deep storytelling. But the window to capture fan attention before and after the game is narrowing. And here's the catch: a lot of organizations are investing millions—sometimes hundreds of millions—just to secure the rights to live sports. Maximizing the value of that investment means extending the life of each broadcast as long as possible. That's where short-form content comes in. By slicing key moments into dynamic, bite-sized videos optimized for social, mobile, and on-demand platforms, teams, leagues, and broadcasters can get exponentially more return on the rights they've acquired—especially in a region with one of the highest average screen times. In Saudi Arabia and Egypt for example, the typical smartphone owner spends 4 ½ hours per day on their phone. That's more than a half hour longer than the global average. When it comes to vertical content—that could be anything from a 4:5 post on Instagram to 9:16 reels and stories—organizations from the MENA region are also outpacing their global counterparts by creating 13% more vertical videos on average. In total, the majority of videos created by WSC Sports' clients—an astounding 67%—were in a vertical format. If short-form consumption continues to rise—and there's every reason to believe it will—organizations that don't recalibrate their content strategy risk falling behind in the race for relevance and reach. What Rights Holders Are Doing—And What They Need to Do To keep up, many organizations have ramped up their short-form production, and even hired dedicated teams to manage everything 'content'. From finally saying yes to opening that TikTok account, to adapting to new content formats like shorts and stories, the push is clearly there. But creating this volume of content quickly, accurately, and at scale remains a challenge—and only one piece of the puzzle. To engage today's evolving audiences, broadcasters and rights holders must begin operating more like digital entertainment platforms by blending innovation, content, culture, and personalization to connect with different means providing experiences they've come to expect, like an app filled with the type of videos already being created for social. An app should also be home to anything you'd find on an organization's website including tickets, news, standings, and upcoming events—the key differentiator here: you own and access user data in your app, something that you miss when only publishing to social media platforms. Sound like a lot? That's because it is. Traditional production and post-production workflows weren't built for this kind of pace. And while some teams might have the manpower to produce content in real and near time, it's often reactive, inconsistent, and difficult to maintain—especially across multiple platforms, formats, and audience segments. AI-Automation is No Longer a 'Nice to Have' Just like every other industry, sports organizations will need to adopt the latest AI tools to stay in the game and keep their brands competitive. WSC Sports helps rights holders meet fans where they are—with automated, personalized video content that's ready for every screen, every moment, and every platform. Our AI-powered platform takes live broadcast streams and transforms them into short-form videos, built for the way fans consume content. Who's Doing it Best? We've seen firsthand how our global client base is leveraging the WSC Sports platform to not only meet the demand for short-form—but to lead it. The NBA : produces hundreds of real-time, personalized highlight packages per night, delivered to the NBA app, social accounts, and more produces hundreds of real-time, personalized highlight packages per night, delivered to the NBA app, social accounts, and more NASCAR : delivers real-time highlights to its Timeline Feed in the NASCAR app so fans can follow along with zero delay delivers real-time highlights to its Timeline Feed in the NASCAR app so fans can follow along with zero delay Bayern Munich Basketball: creates scores of videos for social media and their mobile app—including in new content formats like stories. These organizations aren't just increasing brand reach—they're winning more engagement with content. And the success has been measurable. Download the Full Report The data is pretty clear: short-form is getting shorter, and it's only gaining momentum. As platforms shift and fan behavior evolves, rights holders need to stay ahead—not scramble to catch up. At WSC Sports, we're helping organizations take control of the moment. Let's make sure your fans never miss a second—even when seconds are all they've got. Download the report and learn about the 5 latest trends in sports content.