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:
- High-growth entrepreneurs
- Senior executives in priority sectors
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:
- Building sovereign AI capabilities
- Accelerating national adoption of generative AI
- Supporting public- and private-sector transformation
- Advancing Qatar’s leadership in applied and ethical AI
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:
- Innovation
- Venture capital
- Artificial intelligence
- Startup acceleration
- Future technologies
This year’s edition cements Qatar’s rise as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and investment.
