ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-founded COLABS launched a new workspace campus in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, this week, marking its first major international expansion as it looks to tap into the Kingdom’s fast-growing startup and small business sector.
The company, which operates coworking and flexible office spaces across Pakistan, said the 4,000 square meter campus in northern Riyadh would cater to startups, scale-ups and enterprise teams, as competition intensifies to serve the Kingdom’s expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Founded in Pakistan and operating in cities including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, COLABS has positioned itself as part of the country’s growing startup infrastructure, providing shared workspaces and community-led platforms for businesses.
“Saudi Arabia represents a significant long-term market for us,” COLABS Chief Executive Omar Shah said at the launch event. “Our focus is on building environments where ambitious companies can work more effectively and where networks strengthen over time.”
The Riyadh campus, located in the Al-Narjis district, is designed to accommodate more than 500 members and includes meeting rooms, event space, a rooftop terrace and a podcast studio, the company said.
COLABS has raised more than $8 million from investors including Shorooq, Waseel Partners and Indus Valley Capital, and aims to become a leading workspace provider across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan in the coming years.
The expansion also reflects efforts to strengthen business links between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with investors highlighting the potential for deeper cross-border collaboration.
COLABS said it aims to act as a bridge between Pakistani and Saudi business ecosystems through its expansion.
“The partnership reflects deepening economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and highlights the potential for greater collaboration across the region,” Faisal AlRashed, managing partner at Waseel Partners, said.
COLABS said it would use its platform to help companies launch and scale across markets, while also promoting cultural exchange initiatives between the two countries through art, design and community programming.
The company currently operates more than 500,000 square feet of workspace across over 10 locations, supporting more than 5,000 members and 300 companies.
