Pakistani workspace startup COLABS is set to enter Saudi Arabia with a flagship site in Riyadh, marking the beginning of its expansion across the MENA region amid growing economic and digital collaboration between the two countries. The Riyadh site will serve as COLABS’ primary location in Saudi Arabia and an anchor for connecting local corporates with startups and talent across emerging markets. Omar Shah, CEO and co-founder, described the expansion as a defining step for the company, noting that Riyadh provides a dynamic environment for building communities that bridge ecosystems between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The site is currently under development and is expected to open in the coming months as the first phase of COLABS’ MENA growth strategy. Alongside the physical expansion, the company has secured additional investment and formalized a local partnership with Waseel Investment, which will support the establishment and operations of the Riyadh location. Faisal Al Rashed, Director of Investment at Waseel Partners, highlighted that the collaboration goes beyond funding, representing a bridge for Pakistani startups to access the Saudi market while creating opportunities for Saudi entrepreneurs to connect with talent and innovation in Pakistan. This initiative follows COLABS’ earlier funding round in October 2024, which was led by Shorooq and Waad VC, underscoring continued investor confidence in the startup’s regional vision.
COLABS’ entry into Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the Kingdom has emerged as one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in MENA, attracting over $2 billion in venture funding in 2024 and accounting for more than 40 percent of all regional deals. With the coworking market projected to exceed $1 billion by 2025 and an expanding entrepreneurial base, Riyadh offers a strategic foundation for COLABS’ next phase of growth. The company has consistently built its identity around fostering community and supporting founders through programs such as COLABS Creative Collective and the Artist-in-Residence initiative, which complement its core coworking offerings.
Founded in Lahore in 2019, COLABS operates ten active sites, serving over 5,000 members from 300 companies and 250 partners. Startups within its network have collectively raised more than $1 billion in capital, while the platform hosts over 1,000 events annually, attracting more than half a million visitors. COLABS is backed by prominent regional venture capital firms, including Shorooq, Indus Valley Capital, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Zayn VC, and Waad Investment, along with key angel investors. Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, congratulated COLABS on its Saudi expansion, emphasizing that it reflects the growing digital collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and the implementation of Digital Nation Pakistan initiatives beyond national borders.
With its strategic presence in Riyadh, COLABS aims to strengthen cross-border entrepreneurial ties, accelerate knowledge sharing, and offer a platform where startups from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can collaborate, innovate, and scale. The expansion represents a focused effort to leverage both markets’ potential, supporting the development of integrated ecosystems that nurture talent, investment, and sustainable growth across MENA.
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