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ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday invited Saudi businessmen to invest in Pakistan’s tech sector, highlighting the participation of over 100 Pakistani firms in the LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh.

The minister expressed these views while addressing the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum in Riyadh, a networking event jointly organized by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), ahead of the four-day LEAP tech conference being held on Feb. 9-12.

This is the fourth edition of LEAP, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s award-winning global technology event for which entrepreneurs, investors and startups have converged in Riyadh to present their products to an anticipated audience of over 170,000 visitors. The latest edition follows last year’s record-breaking LEAP 2024, which saw $13.4 billion in investments and project commitments. Under the theme “Into New Worlds,” LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector.

Pakistan recorded the highest-ever monthly IT exports of $348 million in Dec. 2024, up by 15 percent year-on-year and 12 percent month-on-month, according to official data. The LEAP event offers Pakistani firms a platform to collaborate with stakeholders, explore business opportunities and showcase Pakistan’s diverse IT exports, including software development, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, gaming and robotics.

“Pakistan seeks strong partnerships in advanced technology under Saudi Vision 2030 and we invite Saudi investors to invest in Pakistan’s fintech, cybersecurity, and cloud computing sectors,” Khawaja said.

“Pakistan is making its largest participation in LEAP 2025, with over 100 tech companies and more than 1,000 participants.”

LEAP 2025 will debut Tech Arena, a platform for emerging innovations, featuring a ‘Live TV’ stage hosted by BBC Click’s Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. It is one of two new segments at LEAP 2025, alongside the SportsTech stage, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for innovation and technological growth.

Visitors will explore AI, mixed reality, fashion tech, and brain-computer interfaces. Key highlights include Anouk Wipprecht’s Tech Couture exhibit, Adobe’s ‘Project Primrose’ digital dress technology, and Aramco-backed Terra Drone’s long-range medical delivery system. Saudi oil giant Aramco will also showcase SARA, an AI-driven assistant for decision-making. Engine VR will present its Golden Gloves VR boxing platform with live demos by UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez, while Alwaleed Philanthropies will showcase its Atlai AI program to support global deforestation monitoring. XPANCEO will introduce smart contact lenses with integrated computing.

Pakistan is providing world-class digital services and offering excellent opportunities for investors, according to Khawaja.

“We are not just participating [in LEAP 2025] but signing memorandums of understandings and making agreements for real economic growth through cooperation,” she said, adding that the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) was a key partner in the South Asian country’s digital growth.

The 16-member DCO, the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental organization, focuses on the acceleration of growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. Pakistan is a key member of the organization.

Khawaja said the Digital Nation Act 2025 marked a new era in the Pakistani digital realm and provided a golden opportunity for digital investment and technological collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The act aims to align Pakistan’s economy, governance and services with global digital standards.

“The Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum will soon be held in Islamabad, bringing together global investors, including from Saudi Arabia,” she added.

ABU DHABI: Belinda Bencic became Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open champion for the second time after coming from behind to defeat Ashlyn Krueger in Saturday’s final, capping a remarkable comeback story.

In the doubles event Jelena Ostapenko and Ellen Perez clinched the title with a dominant win over Shuai Zhang and Kristina Mladenovic.

The third edition of the WTA 500 event finished in front of a sold-out crowd at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, the culmination of eight days of world-class tennis and fantastic off-court entertainment.

Both finalists recorded magnificent victories to secure their place in the tournament showpiece, with Bencic overturning a one-set deficit to eliminate reigning champion Elena Rybakina and Krueger defeating Linda Noskova, setting the stage for a super showdown on Stadium Court.

There was little to choose between the two players in the first set, which went with serve for the opening eight games.

With the score tied at 4-4, Krueger, 20, broke her opponent, subsequently seeing out the following game, on serve, to take the lead.

If the first set was close, the second was anything but, as Bencic, 27, produced a stunning response, completely overpowering Krueger, who was playing in her first WTA 500 final, to restore parity.

Buoyed by the ruthlessness of her second-set turnaround, 2020 Olympic gold medallist Bencic picked up where she left off, quickly racing into a 3-0 lead in the third to firmly take control of the contest.

The less experienced Krueger pulled a game back, but it was little more than a temporary reprieve. There was simply no stopping Bencic, who comfortably saw out the next three games to seal a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory, and a second Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open title, capping a remarkable comeback story given she did not return to action until October after taking a maternity break.

With Bencic not competing at last year’s event, today’s victory ensures she remains undefeated at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a tournament she is slowly making her own.

Bencic celebrated on-court, including her young daughter Bella in the proceedings, before collecting her trophy.

Earlier in the day, Ostapenko and Perez made light work of Zhang and Mladenovic in the doubles final, requiring just 60 minutes to land the title in a very one-sided contest.

The pair reached the final without dropping a set, and the final followed a similar theme as they blasted their opponents off court in devastating fashion, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Homaid Al Shimmari, deputy group CEO at Mubadala Investment Company, said: “Congratulations to the winners on their remarkable victory at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. This tournament has once again brought together the world’s top talent, thrilling fans and elevating the profile of women’s tennis on the global stage. At Mubadala, we are proud to support events that inspire the next generation and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a world-class sporting destination. We look forward to building on this magnificent momentum and welcoming many more future champions to this speculator event next year.”

Aref Al-Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “I am pleased to congratulate Belinda Bencic on her well-deserved victory. She showcased an outstanding performance that combined skill and determination that befits the prestige of the tournament.”

Also on Saturday, the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open winners were crowned as the initiative, which provides a pathway for aspiring players in the UAE to enhance their skills and make an impact on the global game, reached its conclusion.

Sanctioned by the UAE Tennis Federation, the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open holds tournaments throughout Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah for various age groups, with the respective finals taking place as part of the WTA 500 event.

For the second consecutive year, Timur Gordeev walked away with the title in the under-16 boys competition, while Karen John triumphed in the girls’ tournament for the same age group.

At under-14 level, Isabelle James successfully defended the title she won last year, with Alexi Rafa Aldemita winning the boys’ competition.

Ryan Abou Jamra and Sophie Himmelreich, meanwhile, were the winners in the under-12 category.

The event has a huge effect in the local community through the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Schools Program, which engaged more than 25,000 children from schools in the capital.