Financial Secretary Paul Chan has highlighted the rapidly growing relationship between Hong Kong and the Middle East, noting that interactions have expanded well beyond finance and trade to include cultural, artistic and sports exchanges.

Writing in his weekly blog, Chan pointed to the recent Saudi Super Cup final, held for the first time in East Asia at Hong Kong Stadium, as a prime example.

He reported a strong turnout of 30,000 spectators, many of whom had travelled to the city specifically for the event.

This follows a pattern of increased cultural dialogue, with Chan citing a Hong Kong film festival held in Dubai this March, which featured a local blockbuster that grossed over a HK$100 million.

"These interactions help deepen our understanding of each other's cultures, histories and customs, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation between Hong Kong and the Middle East in various fields," he said.

The connection is also strengthening through a significant increase in travel, according to the finance minister.

Visitor arrivals from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries surged by 70 percent year-on-year, with the first seven months of this year seeing an additional growth by more than half.

The high demand is further evidenced by the direct flight to Riyadh, resumed last October, which Chan said is consistently fully booked, suggesting potential for more frequent services.

He said the economic underpinnings of this relationship are robust, with bilateral trade between Hong Kong and the Gulf region reaching HK$150 billion last year, boasting an average annual growth of 11 percent over the past five years.

He noted that Hong Kong now stands as the seventh-largest trading partner for the UAE.

To further capitalise on this momentum, authorities are accelerating the establishment of an Economic and Trade Office in Riyadh.

This will join Hong Kong's existing offices in Dubai, Cairo and Izmir, enhancing economic and cultural ties across the Middle East and North Africa.

Chan also said that Middle Eastern countries are focused on accelerating infrastructure development, adopting innovative technologies and promoting industrial diversification.

This, he said, presents a perfect landscape for Hong Kong's startups, tech firms and professional service providers to commercialise their innovations and research.

Looking ahead, he said the government plans to continue promoting the city's advantages globally in conjunction with the mainland, which includes leading delegations to emerging markets to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation and create new opportunities for local enterprises.