LEAP 2026 boosts Pakistan's prospects in Saudi technology market -

Pakistani IT and IT-enabled companies received strong interest from Saudi investors and technology firms at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, raising expectations that participation in the event will help increase Pakistan's technology exports to the Gulf region. Held from August 31 to September 3, LEAP brought together technology companies, startups, investors and policymakers from around the world. Pakistani IT exporters said the response at the event could translate into new partnerships, investment and business opportunities, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze, said Pakistani technology companies received an encouraging response from Saudi businesses and investors, particularly as economic and bilateral ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to strengthen. He said the expanding relationship could create opportunities for Pakistani firms in areas including artificial intelligence (AI) automation, cybersecurity and enterprise solutions. Shah also encouraged Pakistani companies to consider establishing offices in Saudi Arabia to build a stronger local presence and benefit from the country's growing technology market. More than 100 Pakistani companies and nearly 1,000 delegates participated in LEAP 2026, while 18 companies showcased their products and services at the Pakistan Pavilion under the theme 'Think Tech, Think Pakistan'. The participating companies presented solutions in cybersecurity, cloud migration, managed services, AI applications, intelligent automation, data analytics and digital government. They also offered specialised technology services for sectors including banking, healthcare, energy, logistics, real estate, retail and smart cities. Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan IT Industry Association (P@SHA), said this was the third time Pakistani companies had participated in LEAP, allowing them to showcase their capabilities alongside major global technology companies. He said the growing participation of Pakistani firms in international technology events demonstrated the sector's ability to compete globally, particularly in advanced technology products and services. Pakistani companies also received interest from Saudi investors and technology firms and signed agreements to explore potential partnerships and investments. Tech expert Syed Abdul Qadir said Pakistan's strengths in cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, automation, software engineering, data analytics and managed technology services aligned closely with Saudi Arabia's digital transformation goals under Vision 2030. He said stronger ties between the two countries could help create a 'Pakistan-Saudi TECH Bridge', enabling Pakistani companies to contribute to the Kingdom's delivery, innovation and technology ecosystem while making Saudi Arabia a major international growth market for Pakistan's IT sector. Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in AI, cloud infrastructure and digital connectivity as it seeks to build a technology-driven economy. Qadir said this presented an opportunity for Pakistani companies to offer not only skilled and cost-competitive professionals but also scalable and internationally competitive technology solutions. With more than 200,000 visitors, 1,800 global technology brands, 600 startups, 1,900 investors and over 1,000 speakers, LEAP 2026 provided Pakistani technology companies with a major platform to expand their international presence and pursue commercial opportunities in the Kingdom. – ERMD READ MORE