ISLAMABAD: Pakistani tech companies participating in the four-day LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh are hopeful of attracting business deals worth $50 million at the global tech event, the head of Pakistani software producers’ association said on Sunday.
The fourth edition of LEAP, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s award-winning global technology event, opened on Sunday and will continue till Feb. 12, for which entrepreneurs, investors and startups have converged in Riyadh to present their products to an anticipated audience of over 170,000 visitors. It follows last year’s record-breaking LEAP 2024, which saw $13.4 billion in investments and project commitments. Under the theme “Into New Worlds,” LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector.
Pakistan recorded the highest-ever monthly IT exports of $348 million in Dec. 2024, up by 15 percent year-on-year and 12 percent month-on-month, according to official data. The LEAP event offers Pakistani firms a platform to collaborate with stakeholders, explore business opportunities and showcase Pakistan’s diverse IT exports, including software development, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, gaming and robotics.
“This year, we have one of the largest delegations ever at LEAP, with over 100 companies and more than 1,000 delegates participating,” Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), told Arab News over the phone from Riyadh.
“With this strong presence at LEAP, we expect to double our business this year and generate $50 million in deals.”
Pakistani IT companies continue to maintain a strong presence in the Kingdom and this year some of the biggest names, including Systems Limited, Abacus and Excellence Delivered, are participating in the mega tech event, according to the P@SHA chairman.
In addition, several startups, around 20 companies sponsored by P@SHA, and a few more sponsored by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) are attending the event, while some Pakistani firms have joined independently.
Syed said Saudi investors “responded positively” to Pakistani companies during a meeting of the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum that was held ahead of the LEAP inauguration.
“There is growing excitement about Pakistan’s IT industry, which has now firmly arrived on the global stage,” he said. “We are no longer at the startup or entry level rather we are now a recognized force in the global tech landscape, and this recognition is evident in Saudi Arabia.”
Syed said Pakistan’s tech solutions were “at par with the best in the world, if not superior.”
“Our companies are making strides in high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity,” he added.
Former P@SHA chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan, whose e-solutions company A2Z Creatorz is participating in LEAP, said the event has enabled many Pakistani firms to establish businesses in the Kingdom over the past few years.
“Our participation in LEAP 2024 was a huge success as around 25 Pakistani companies registered in the Kingdom after that and secured some good business deals,” he told Arab News.
“This year, we hope more companies will have the opportunity to register in the Kingdom through collaborations with Saudi firms and secure significant business by establishing offices in Saudi Arabia.”
Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, said the LEAP conference has developed into one of the foremost global IT events since 2022.
“The participation of over 100 Pakistani IT companies at LEAP 2025 is a testament to Pakistan’s growing strength in the global technology sector,” he said.
He said the Pakistani IT industry is offering cutting-edge solutions in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and software development, making Pakistan a key player in digital transformation.
“To further strengthen collaboration and engagement, I had the pleasure of hosting a networking dinner in Riyadh on February 8, bringing together over 400 distinguished guests, including business leaders, investors, and technology experts,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 presents immense opportunities and Pakistan is committed to fostering deeper cooperation through innovation in the region.
The LEAP tech conference plays a critical role in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global technology hub, aligning with its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. As part of the initiative, the Kingdom has pledged $100 billion toward advancing its technology sector.
LEAP 2025 will debut Tech Arena, a platform for emerging innovations, featuring a ‘Live TV’ stage hosted by BBC Click’s Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. It is one of two new segments at LEAP 2025, alongside the SportsTech stage, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for innovation and technological growth.
Visitors will explore AI, mixed reality, fashion tech, and brain-computer interfaces. Key highlights include Anouk Wipprecht’s Tech Couture exhibit, Adobe’s ‘Project Primrose’ digital dress technology, and Aramco-backed Terra Drone’s long-range medical delivery system. Saudi oil giant Aramco will also showcase SARA, an AI-driven assistant for decision-making. Engine VR will present its Golden Gloves VR boxing platform with live demos by UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez, while Alwaleed Philanthropies will showcase its Atlai AI program to support global deforestation monitoring. XPANCEO will introduce smart contact lenses with integrated computing.