Pakistan’s IT and IT-enabled companies received a good response from foreign investors and tech companies, eyeing growth in exports in the Gulf region, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
IT exporters believe that participation in LEAP 2026 will translate into higher exports, as regional and international companies from different parts of the world participated in the technology event despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
LEAP is one of the world’s largest and most influential technology events, bringing together global technology leaders, startups, investors, and policymakers from across the globe. It was held from August 31 to September 3, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze, said Pakistani IT companies had received a very positive response from Saudi companies and investors at LEAP 2026, particularly amid the strengthening relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He said the growing bilateral ties between the two countries at the state level could help Pakistani companies explore business opportunities in Saudi Arabia in areas such as AI automation, cybersecurity and enterprise solutions.
“Saudi Arabia is a stable and growing market among the Gulf countries and continues to offer business-friendly policies for investors despite recent tensions in the region,” Shah said.
Pakistani companies should consider establishing offshore offices in Saudi Arabia and leverage the presence of a large Pakistani expatriate community as a competitive advantage over companies from other countries, Hexalyze CEO said, who established his company’s booth at LEAP 2026 to showcase its products and services and explore potential business opportunities.
More than 100 Pakistani companies and nearly 1,000 delegates participated in the event, while 18 companies had set up booths at the Pakistan Pavilion under the theme “Think Tech, Think Pakistan”.
Pakistani technology firms offered a range of solutions, including enterprise-grade cybersecurity, cloud migration and managed services, AI-enabled applications, intelligent automation, data and analytics platforms, digital government solutions and specialised technology services for sectors such as banking, healthcare, energy, logistics, real estate, retail and smart cities.
“This is the third time Pakistani companies are participating in one of the world’s largest technology events, strengthening their presence by showcasing world-class products and services alongside global technology giants,” said Sajjad Mustafa Syed, Chairman of the Pakistan IT Association (P@SHA).
He said the growing presence and active engagement of Pakistani IT companies at international technology events reflected the industry’s ability to compete at a global level, particularly in cutting-edge products and services.
Pakistani companies have received strong interest from Saudi investors and technology firms and have signed multiple agreements to explore partnerships, business opportunities, and potential investments.
This was the third time Pakistani companies participated in one of the largest tech events, strengthening their presence with world-class products and services alongside global tech giants, said Sajjad Mustafa Syed, Chairman of the Pakistan IT Industry Association (P@SHA).
The participation was expected to prove a game-changer for Pakistan’s IT industry by helping local companies expand their services exports in the Gulf region and other international markets, the P@SHA chairman said.
Syed Abdul Qadir, a leading tech expert, said that Pakistan has expertise in cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, automation, software engineering, data analytics and managed technology services, all of which are expected to play an increasingly important role as Saudi Arabia advances the objectives of its Vision 2030 programme.
The broader opportunity is to use our strong brotherly relations to build a deeper Saudi-Pak TECH Bridge. Pakistani companies can become an important part of the delivery, innovation and technology ecosystem supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions, while Saudi Arabia can develop into one of the most important international growth markets for Pakistan’s IT sector, said Syed Abdul Qadir, who also represented Pakistan at a panel discussion on cybersecurity at the LEAP.
Saudi Arabia is making significant investments in artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and digital connectivity as it works towards building a technology-driven economy. This presents an opportunity for Pakistani companies to demonstrate their ability to provide not only skilled and cost-competitive professionals but also sophisticated, scalable and internationally competitive technology solutions, he said.
The growing cooperation between the two countries could also help establish a stronger Pakistan-Saudi technology bridge, enabling Pakistani companies to become part of the delivery, innovation and technology ecosystem supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
With more than 200,000 visitors, 1,800 global technology brands, 600 startups, 1,900 investors and over 1,000 speakers, the event provided a major platform for companies seeking to establish commercial partnerships and explore opportunities in the Kingdom.
Reference Link:- https://www.brecorder.com/news/40437804