Category: Entrepreneurship

Qatar Unveils Major Tech & Investment Reforms as Prime Minister Opens Web Summit Qatar 2026

Qatar’s ambition to become a leading global technology and innovation hub accelerated yesterday as HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, officially inaugurated the third edition of Web Summit Qatar, the MENA region’s fastest-growing technology event. The summit runs until 4 February at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, gathering global tech leaders, investors, founders, and policymakers. The opening ceremony marked a milestone moment for Qatar’s digital transformation agenda, with the government announcing a series of high-impact initiatives designed to expand the nation’s technology, entrepreneurship, AI, and investment ecosystems. USD 2 Billion Expansion of the Fund of Funds Programme In one of the summit’s most significant announcements, Qatar confirmed a USD 2 billion expansion of its national Fund of Funds programme, which supports venture capital firms and high-growth startups across strategic sectors. This expansion strengthens Qatar’s position as a global capital hub and sends a clear signal to international investors seeking a stable, innovation-driven market. 10-Year Residency for Entrepreneurs & Executives Qatar also announced a long-term 10-year residency scheme for: This new visa category aims to attract world-class talent and incentivise founders to build and scale their companies from Qatar — a major step in advancing the country’s competitiveness on the global innovation map. Faster, Simplified Company Registration As part of ongoing reforms to improve the ease of doing business, Qatar introduced accelerated company registration procedures, enabling startups and investors to establish operations faster and more efficiently. These improvements reinforce Qatar’s goal of becoming one of the world’s most business-friendly jurisdictions, especially for early-stage and scaling companies. Launch of Qai — Qatar’s National AI Company Another headline announcement was the launch of Qai, Qatar’s new national AI company, signalling a powerful move to position the nation at the center of global AI development. Qai will focus on: The initiative aligns with Qatar’s broader national strategy to integrate AI across education, industry, energy, healthcare, mobility, and smart cities. A Transformational Edition of Web Summit Qatar With thousands of global delegates, investors, and startups converging in Doha, Web Summit Qatar 2026 is on track to become the region’s most influential gathering for: This year’s edition cements Qatar’s rise as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and investment.  

Consulting HAUS Guides Snoonu Through Landmark $245M Acquisition, Marking Qatar’s First Billion-Riyal Tech Exit

Qatar’s technology and startup ecosystem reached a historic milestone as Snoonu was acquired by Jahez Group in a $245 million transaction, valuing the Doha-born platform at over QAR 1 billion. The deal represents Qatar’s first billion-riyal technology exit and one of the largest private capital infusions in the country’s history. At the centre of this landmark transaction was Consulting HAUS, which acted as exclusive sell-side advisor to Snoonu. The firm played a pivotal role in positioning the company for acquisition, safeguarding shareholder value, and securing favourable terms that reflected Snoonu’s rapid growth and regional ambitions. A Milestone for Qatar’s Tech Ecosystem The acquisition is widely viewed as a breakthrough moment for Qatar’s innovation landscape, signalling the maturity of its startup ecosystem and its growing relevance within the wider GCC technology market. By achieving a billion-riyal valuation, Snoonu has set a powerful precedent for local founders, investors, and emerging tech companies looking to scale beyond national borders. Consulting HAUS began its advisory mandate nearly a year before the transaction’s close, laying the groundwork through detailed business planning, operational readiness, and strategic positioning. This early-stage preparation proved critical in reducing friction during negotiations and ensuring the company entered the transaction process from a position of strength. Strategic Advisory at Every Stage Throughout the deal, Consulting HAUS led transaction execution, working closely with buy-side advisors, legal teams, and auditors. Its role spanned valuation strategy, deal structuring, due diligence coordination, and negotiation support—ensuring transparency, alignment among stakeholders, and disciplined project management at every stage. Commenting on the achievement, Laith Dajani, Managing Partner at Consulting HAUS, said the transaction demonstrates the importance of professional advisory in enabling successful cross-border GCC deals and highlights Qatar’s emergence as a hub for technology innovation. From Snoonu’s perspective, the acquisition represents both scale and continuity. Hamad Al Hajri, CEO of Snoonu, noted that the partnership with Jahez Group brings new investment and regional momentum, while allowing the company to remain anchored in Qatar’s values, vision, and talent base. Setting a New Benchmark Backed by a leadership team with more than 100 years of combined experience, Consulting HAUS continues to play a central role in advancing high-impact transactions across the GCC. Over the past seven years, the firm has delivered multiple landmark projects that support economic diversification, private-sector growth, and cross-border investment. The Snoonu–Jahez transaction now stands as a benchmark deal—not only for Qatar’s tech sector, but for the broader regional startup and M&A landscape—demonstrating what is possible when innovation, ambition, and strategic advisory converge.  

Ibtechar Partners with AI Crafters to Accelerate AI Adoption in Qatar

Empowering organisations through cutting-edge AI solutions and supporting Qatar’s National AI Strategy In a bold move to strengthen Qatar’s digital innovation landscape, Ibtechar, a leading innovation consultancy, has announced a strategic two-year partnership with AI Crafters, a pioneering artificial intelligence firm. The collaboration aims to accelerate AI adoption in Qatar, enabling businesses and institutions to integrate AI into their operations and drive data-driven decision-making seamlessly. Building Qatar’s Future Through Artificial Intelligence This timely alliance supports Qatar’s National AI Strategy and Vision 2030, aiming to position Qatar as a regional hub for AI transformation. As AI reshapes industries globally, Qatar’s businesses face both opportunity and complexity in adopting the technology. The Ibtechar x AI Crafters partnership will address these challenges with:

Nine Qatari business leaders make it to Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs 2024

Forbes Middle East released its fourth annual list of the region’s top CEOs earlier this year, a list that recognises business leaders who have made a significant impact over the past year. The list features 100 CEOs from companies based in the MENA region, representing 19 nationalities. Here are the nine Qatar-based business leaders who have been recognised for their achievements and the success of the companies they lead. 04 HE Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs As Deputy Chairman, President and CEO of QatarEnergy – roles that he took on in 2014, HE Al Kaabi became the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Deputy Chairman of QatarEnergy in 2018. In May 2024, QatarEnergy finalised a US$6 billion agreement with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) to build 18 state-of-the-art QC-Max LNG vessels. Prior to that, In February 2024, QatarEnergy announced the ‘North Field West’ project, aiming to boost Qatar’s LNG production capacity to 142 million tonnes annually by 2030, an 85 percent increase from current levels. 10 Nasser Abdulla Mubarak Al Khalifa As Group CEO of Qatar National Bank – Al-Khalifa joined in 1996 and assumed his current role in November 2018. In 2023, QNB’s assets increased by 4 percent to US$338.2 billion, and net profit rose by 8 percent to US$4.3 billion. In May 2024, QNB extended its partnership with Ooredoo Fintech to develop fintech services and digital innovation in Oman. 36 Aziz Althuman Fakhroo The Group CEO & Managing Director of Ooredoo Group since November 2020, Fakhroo had been overseeing operations across 10 countries in the MENA and Southeast Asia. In June 2024, Ooredoo announced a partnership with NVIDIA to tap into the growing demand for generative AI, accelerated computing, and hyperconnectivity. In the first quarter of 2024, the group reported revenues of US$1.6 billion and total assets of US$15.6 billion. 59 Bassel Gamal As Group CEO of Qatar Islamic Bank, Gamal has led QIB since 2013. In 2023, the bank reported US$52 billion in assets, US$3.1 billion in revenues, and US$1.2 billion in net profits, up 6.6 percent from 2022. In November 2023, QIB issued a US$500 million five-year sukuk. Gamal also chairs QIB-UK and sits on the board of QInvest. 64 Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal Al Thani The Group CEO of Doha Bank, Sheikh Abdulrahman took on his current role in October 2023. As of June 2024, Doha Bank operated 17 branches in Qatar, four overseas branches in the UAE, Kuwait, and India, and representative offices in the UK, Singapore, Turkiye, China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Nepal. In the first half of 2024, it reported US$118.8 million in net profits and US$29.1 billion in assets. In May 2024, the bank launched a new mobile banking app, now handling nearly 89 percent of transactions. 70 Abdullah Al Sulaiti Al Sulaiti joined Nakilat in 2011 and became CEO in 2013. Nakilat operates one of the world’s largest LNG fleets, with 69 LNG carriers, four very large LPG carriers, and a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). The company has 27 new LNG carriers on order, plus nine QC-MAX carriers and four LPG/Ammonia carriers. In March 2024, Nakilat signed a long-term charter agreement with QatarEnergy for 25 LNG vessels. Al Sulaiti also chairs Qatar Shipyard Technology Solutions and Qatar Fabrication Company, and is a board member of Gulf Drilling International. 78 Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida Al Jaida took on his role in June 2015. In the first half of 2024, QFC registered 505 new companies, bringing its total to over 2,200. QFC also launched Qatar’s first Digital Assets Lab, focusing on Digital Ledger Technology solutions. Al Jaida serves on the boards of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers, Qatar Finance and Business Academy, Qatar Free Zones Authority, Qatar Stock Exchange, and Sidra Medicine. 80 Tarek El Sayed El Sayed has been CEO and managing director of Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company, a subsidiary of Al Faisal Holding, since 2017. ARTIC’s portfolio includes over 35 hotels and projects across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America. In November 2023, ARTIC signed a franchise agreement with IHG Hotels & Resorts to rebrand its Times Square, New York, hotel as Crowne Plaza. El Sayed previously served as group CFO for Al Faisal Holding. He recently claimed the 26th spot in Forbes ME’s 2024 ‘Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders’. 82 Salem Al Mannai Al Mannai joined QIC Group in 2001 and became group CEO in 2020. In 2023, the group operated in 11 countries, generating $2 billion in revenue and a net profit of $169 million, recovering from a $325 million loss in 2022. Al Mannai also chairs the MENA Insurtech Association and played a key role in launching Qatar’s Third Financial Sector Strategy in 2023 with Qatar Central Bank, aiming to position Qatar as an innovative financial hub.