Pakistani technology companies are targeting higher IT exports to Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf after reporting strong interest from investors and technology firms at LEAP 2026, where more than 100 Pakistani companies and nearly 1,000 delegates participated.
The four-day technology event, held in Riyadh from August 31 to September 3, provided Pakistani companies with opportunities to showcase capabilities across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, automation and enterprise technology.
Industry representatives believe stronger commercial engagement with Saudi companies could translate into new partnerships, investment and services exports as the Kingdom continues to invest in digital transformation under Vision 2030.
More than 100 Pakistani companies participate
Pakistan maintained a significant presence at LEAP 2026, with more than 100 companies and nearly 1,000 delegates attending the event.
Eighteen companies exhibited through the Pakistan Pavilion under the “Think Tech, Think Pakistan” theme.
Participating companies presented technologies spanning enterprise cybersecurity, cloud migration and managed services, AI-enabled applications, intelligent automation, data and analytics, digital government and specialised enterprise solutions.
Target industries included banking, healthcare, energy, logistics, real estate, retail and smart cities.
LEAP 2026 attracted more than 200,000 visitors, 1,800 global technology brands, 600 startups, 1,900 investors and more than 1,000 speakers, according to figures cited by the source.
Saudi Arabia emerges as priority export market
Saudi Arabia is increasingly being viewed by Pakistani IT companies as a strategic international growth market.
Hexalyze CEO Saad Shah said Pakistani companies received a positive response from Saudi businesses and investors during the event, with opportunities emerging in areas including AI automation, cybersecurity and enterprise technology.
Shah argued that Pakistani technology companies should consider establishing offices in Saudi Arabia rather than relying solely on offshore delivery.
A local presence could help companies build customer relationships and participate more directly in Saudi technology projects, while Pakistan’s large expatriate community in the Kingdom could provide an additional commercial advantage.
Companies explore partnerships and investment
Pakistani technology firms reported interest from Saudi investors and technology companies during LEAP and signed multiple agreements to explore partnerships, commercial opportunities and potential investments.
The source did not disclose the number, value or specific commercial terms of these agreements, meaning their eventual contribution to Pakistan’s technology exports will depend on whether discussions convert into contracts and deployments.
Pakistan IT Industry Association (P@SHA) Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed said the country’s growing participation in major international technology events reflects the industry’s ability to compete in global markets.
LEAP 2026 marked the third time Pakistani companies participated collectively in the event.
AI, cloud and cybersecurity align with Saudi demand
The technology capabilities being promoted by Pakistani companies overlap with several areas receiving substantial investment in Saudi Arabia.
Tech expert Syed Abdul Qadir highlighted cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, automation, software engineering, data analytics and managed technology services as areas where Pakistani companies could contribute to Saudi digital transformation.
Saudi Arabia’s investments in AI infrastructure, cloud services and digital connectivity are creating opportunities for international technology providers as the Kingdom develops new digital industries and modernises existing sectors.
For Pakistani companies, the opportunity is therefore moving beyond supplying cost-competitive software development talent toward providing more sophisticated technology platforms, consulting and managed services.
Industry calls for Pakistan-Saudi technology bridge
Industry representatives are also advocating a deeper technology relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Qadir described the opportunity as a potential “Saudi-Pak TECH Bridge” that could integrate Pakistani companies into the Kingdom’s technology delivery and innovation ecosystem.
Such a relationship could provide Pakistani firms with access to a large regional technology market while giving Saudi organisations another source of engineering, cybersecurity, AI and enterprise technology expertise.
The commercial impact, however, will depend on converting bilateral relations and event-level engagement into sustained private-sector business.
Why this matters
Saudi Arabia offers Pakistan’s technology sector something particularly important: a large nearby market investing heavily in precisely the areas where Pakistani companies are trying to move up the value chain.
Cybersecurity, AI, cloud, automation and managed technology services offer greater potential value than competing primarily through outsourced software development and lower-cost technical talent.
Establishing a stronger presence in Saudi Arabia could also give Pakistani companies a platform for expansion into the wider GCC, helping diversify the country’s technology export markets.
Editor’s note
The strong Pakistani presence at LEAP is encouraging, but attendance, investor conversations and exploratory agreements should not yet be treated as export growth.
The more meaningful indicators will come after the event: how many agreements convert into commercial contracts, how many Pakistani companies establish permanent Saudi operations, how much investment is secured and whether Saudi customers begin awarding larger, recurring technology programmes to Pakistani providers.
If that conversion happens consistently, Saudi Arabia could evolve from an attractive sales market into one of the principal international growth engines for Pakistan’s IT industry. The opportunity is increasingly visible. The next challenge is turning visibility into sustained export revenue.
