COLABS Expands Saudi Presence with Local Growth Strategy

Pakistani coworking startup COLABS is strengthening its expansion in Saudi Arabia by focusing on local partnerships, community building and entrepreneurship, following the launch of its first international workspace campus in Riyadh.

Pakistani coworking startup COLABS is accelerating its expansion in Saudi Arabia by adopting a locally focused growth strategy centred on community building, entrepreneurship and strategic partnerships. The company believes establishing a strong Saudi identity, rather than simply exporting its Pakistan-based model, will be key to its long-term success in one of the region’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems.

According to Arab News and COLABS, the startup is positioning itself as a community-driven workspace provider as it expands into the Kingdom following the launch of its first international campus in Riyadh earlier this year.

Founded in Pakistan, COLABS operates coworking spaces across Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, supporting startups, SMEs and enterprise clients through flexible workspaces and innovation-focused communities. The Riyadh expansion marks the company’s first venture outside Pakistan and forms part of its broader regional growth strategy.

Speaking about the decision to enter the Saudi market, COLABS Co-founder and CEO Omar Shah said, “I think that was our main reason behind Saudi, was building this unique product where you’re not just giving space, but you also focus a lot on community building, focus a lot on entrepreneurship.”

He added that local collaboration remains central to the company’s expansion plans. “I think that brought us back to the point where we were very keen on working with the local Saudi partners,” Shah said. “And that’s basically what we’re focused on. Building a local brand, bringing people in, but supporting them ahead.”

According to the reports, COLABS’ new 4,000-square-metre campus is located in Riyadh’s Al-Narjis district and has been designed to accommodate more than 500 members. The facility includes meeting rooms, event spaces, a rooftop terrace and a dedicated podcast studio, providing an integrated environment for entrepreneurs, startups and growing businesses.

The company believes Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem presents significant opportunities for workspace providers that offer more than office infrastructure. Instead of focusing solely on real estate, COLABS aims to build collaborative communities that help founders, investors and businesses connect and grow together.

Reflecting on its partnership approach, Shah said, “We worked with them (Saudi partners) to bring in not just space, but to work together in a larger space on how you can take this ahead, what you can do.”

“And that’s what we’re doing,” he added, reaffirming the company’s commitment to expanding alongside local partners rather than operating as a foreign business.

COLABS has raised more than $8 million from investors, including Shorooq, Waseel Partners and Indus Valley Capital, to support its regional expansion strategy. The company has identified Saudi Arabia as a priority growth market and plans to further strengthen its presence across the Middle East and North Africa while continuing to expand its operations in Pakistan.

The Riyadh expansion reflects the growing international ambitions of Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, with homegrown technology companies increasingly targeting regional markets. By combining flexible workspaces with community-led initiatives and local partnerships, COLABS aims to establish itself as a leading coworking platform across the Middle East while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing entrepreneurial landscape.