I first started visiting Saudi Arabia in 2018. Back then, it felt like the beginning of something. You could see the change, but more importantly, you could feel it. A new sense of openness. A new kind of ambition.
What’s happened since has been remarkable. In just a few years, Saudi Arabia has transformed at a pace few countries have ever achieved. Vision 2030 has turned aspiration into action, policy into momentum, and ambition into results.
Today, I’m proud to share that COLABS is expanding to Saudi Arabia. This marks our first international market, and we’re beginning in Riyadh. We’ve been working quietly for nearly two years to make this happen, and we’re now developing our first site; a flagship campus built for startups, scaleups, and enterprises.
We’ve found a strong local partner in Waseel Investment, and I’m excited to have the continued backing of Shorooq Partners, who have now invested in COLABS three times. Together, we’re laying the groundwork for what comes next.
There isn’t a single reason we chose Saudi Arabia. It’s a combination of factors that make it unlike anywhere else in the region.
First, scale. Saudi is not a satellite market. It’s a market of its own, with real depth across industries and sectors. Over 40 percent of all venture funding in MENA now flows into the Kingdom, fueling companies that are building category-defining products. That kind of capital density changes the pace at which things happen.
Second, talent. The people building here today are ambitious in a way that feels familiar to anyone who’s watched the rise of great tech ecosystems elsewhere. There’s local talent with deep understanding of the market, and global talent choosing to move here to be part of this new chapter. The mix of both is powerful.
Third, leadership. Saudi Arabia is already home to the region’s most successful tech companies; founders who’ve proven that products built here can scale across MENA. From fintech to commerce to software, the Kingdom now leads in multiple verticals, creating role models and infrastructure for the next wave of entrepreneurs.
Finally, alignment. Vision 2030 has created a policy and investment environment that supports long-term company building. The same energy that’s driving advancements in technology is also being directed into the creative economy; film, design, architecture, and culture. That blend of innovation and creativity is exactly where COLABS operates best.
For a platform that sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship and creativity, the Kingdom feels like the right place to build.
COLABS was never just about workspaces. From day one, it has been about creating an environment that helps people do their best work. We built COLABS as a platform; one that connects founders, creatives, and growing companies through spaces, programs, and community.
In Pakistan, that platform helped hundreds of startups launch and scale, and thousands of people find a place to collaborate, create, and build. It became a home for ideas that turned into companies. Our goal now is to bring that same spirit to Riyadh.
The site we’re developing will be a purpose-built campus for founders and creatives, designed around how the next generation of companies work; collaborative, digital, and global from day one. It will offer flexible space, access to COLABS programs, and a community of investors, mentors, and operators who can help startups grow faster.
Beyond the space itself, we’re building a bridge between two fast-growing ecosystems; Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Our partnership with Waseel Investment represents more than a real estate or investment collaboration. It’s about connecting regional markets. Founders building in Saudi can tap into Pakistan’s deep technical and creative talent base, while startups from across the region can use COLABS as a launchpad to expand into the Kingdom.It’s about connecting two complementary markets. Saudi founders can access Pakistan’s deep technical and creative talent base, and Pakistani startups can use COLABS to expand into the Kingdom more easily.
This cross-border connection has always been part of our DNA. We’ve seen what happens when founders, investors, and creatives come together across markets. It accelerates everything; ideas move faster, teams get stronger, and companies scale quicker.
With the continuous support of our investors, we’re confident we can play a meaningful role in the next phase of regional growth.
Riyadh is becoming one of the most exciting startup hubs in the world. The energy here is real; not hype, not headlines, but actual builders working with intent and speed. Our mission remains simple: to build spaces that don’t just host companies, but help create them. To support founders, creatives, and teams doing their best work in a region that’s defining its own future.
As we develop our Riyadh site and prepare to open in the months ahead, I’m reminded of how this all started; a small group of people who believed that community could scale. That belief hasn’t changed.
This expansion is the beginning of a new chapter for COLABS, one that connects two ecosystems and contributes to one of the most dynamic transformations happening anywhere in the world today.
If you’re in Riyadh and part of the startup or creative community, let’s connect. The best ideas always start with a conversation.
Omar Shah
CEO and Co-Founder, COLABS
