In order to make it easier for Pakistani startups and SMEs to enter the Saudi market, the two countries have decided to strengthen their technological partnerships and digital investment.
According to an official announcement, this agreement was made during a meeting at LEAP 2025 between Saudi Deputy Investment Minister Ibrahim Almubarak and Pakistan’s Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
Building business-to-business (B2B) relationships was a topic of discussion, especially in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and finance. While Saudi Arabia recognized Pakistan’s highly qualified workforce and technological advancements, emphasizing prospects for international venture capital investments, Shaza Fatima reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to developing an investor-friendly digital ecosystem.
Additionally, both parties looked into measures to improve cooperative R&D projects, expedite business registration and licensing for Pakistani companies operating in Saudi Arabia, and digitize the degree attestation procedure for professionals looking for employment in the Kingdom.
Separately, Saudi Arabia suspended one-year multiple-entry visas for family, business, and tourism visits, changing its visit visa policy for 14 nations, including Pakistan.
Visitors from these countries are only eligible for single-entry visas as of February 1, 2025. Because some people were abusing long-term visit visas to get around official pilgrimage requirements, this modification tries to prevent unauthorized Hajj travel.
