This year’s expanded edition welcomed over 25,000 attendees from over 124 countries, more than 1,520 startups, over 600 investors, and more than 380 speakers alongside 180 industry partners. The event has also drawn unprecedented media interest, with representatives from over 600 media outlets.

The second annual Web Summit held in Doha at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) between February 23 and 26 had a bevy of tech entrepreneurs and financial backers who got together to assess and understand the future of artificial intelligence (AI).

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the second edition of Web Summit Qatar, the largest technology event in the Middle East and North Africa. 

In his opening speech, HE the Prime Minister emphasised Qatar’s continued efforts to cement its position as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the nation’s commitment to improving regulatory frameworks and creating new economic opportunities for the private sector.

 He stated: “Built on the back of our thriving energy sector, we are positioned for a private sector take-off. This launch will include even more transformative partnerships across key sectors, from pioneering fintech solutions to groundbreaking climate technologies.” 

HE the Prime Minister emphasised that Qatar will continue to reinforce its commitment to supporting startups, stating: “We plan to renovate our entire economy to make Qatar the top regional destination for startups and create an ecosystem for startups to innovate and thrive.”   

Qatar is seeking to use its gas wealth to help it become a regional AI leader amid rising competition from neighbouring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

 Qatar had signed a five-year deal with Scale AI to deploy AI-powered tools and training in a push to improve government services in the country.

2025 Web Summit

The summit kicked off with a series of panel discussions featuring prominent entrepreneurs from around the world, including Alexandr Wang, founder and CEO of Scale AI, and Alexis Ohanian, Co-Founder of Reddit and General Partner at Seven Seven Six.

Leading entrepreneurs from around the world, including Alexander Wang, founder and CEO of Scale AI, and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and general partner at Seven Seven Six, took centre stage at the event on the opening day.

Key questions discussed at the summit were over the future of AI amid companies and investors that are changing that landscape more rapidly than what the players themselves expected.

 The United States and China are leading in preparedness for AI, said Wang of US company Scale AI. DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company that develops large language models that are competitive with OpenAI’s, but cost less to create. demonstrated that it is a relatively close race between the two countries and that others will have to follow suit soon.

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Fitch Solutions has estimated that the eCommerce market in Qatar which was worth close to US$1.5 billion in 2019 has not only grown since then but there has been a very sharp increase In Qatar’s small and medium enterprises’ (SME) acceptance of credit cards, which are widely used in Qatar.

While these retail trends are more than apparent, there’s robust regulatory preparation with active systemic changes to support this transition.

As Qatar continues to move towards a cashless economy, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) launched the “Qatar Mobile Payment System” (QMPS) enabling the use of electronic wallets to further develop the country’s electronic payment environment and access to a high-level national payment system. Qatar Central Bank (QCB) also issued unified specifications and standards for the QR code that enables users to make payments by scanning the response code (QR Code) through mobile phones at points of sale and public transportation. QCB issued the Payment Services Regulation to license and regulate payment service providers (PSPs) in Qatar.

In tandem, QCB launched the National Fintech Strategy, to integrate digital innovations like blockchain, Islamic banking, insurance technology, and education technology. Cryptocurrencies remain banned under the new strategy with the aim that through the new strategy, it will serve as a regulator and an enabler to accommodate emerging fintech models.

The central bank started introducing a licensing regime for all new and existing fintech services operating in the country, including Payment Services Providers (PSPs), “buy now pay later” (BNPL) and insurance price comparison websites. The National Strategy and several other related documents remain unavailable in sufficient details leading to opacity and bureaucratic challenge.

Recent data from QCB has shown that Qatar’s point of sale (POS) and eCommerce transactions saw an upward trajectory in December 2024. The surge was registered as POS transactions were valued at QR9.49 billion in December 2024 compared to QR7.90 billion in December 2023 and QR2.755 billion in December 2022 recording a growth of 20 percent and 25 percent respectively. The volume of POS transactions stood at 43.97 million in December 2024, while it was 33.85 million in December 2023 and 32.06 million in the same month in 2022 recording an increase of 30 percent and 37 percent respectively.

Challenges Facing Digital Retailers
While the e-commerce sector in Qatar is experiencing speedy growth and expansion, virtual retailers additionally encounter numerous challenges specific to the market. Here are a number of the essential challenges in dealing with digital shops in Qatar:

Logistics and last-mile delivery: Qatar’s geographical landscape and infrastructure pose logistical challenges for e-commerce shops, particularly in ensuring timely and efficient closing-mile transport of orders to clients throughout the country. Limited delivery networks and congested urban areas can hinder delivery operations, leading to delays and client dissatisfaction.

Payment methods and security concerns: Despite the growing adoption of virtual bills, concerns about charge security and fraud remain universal amongst Qatari customers. Digital retailers ought to deal with those issues by imposing robust price safety features, offering secure payment gateways, and building acceptance with clients to inspire online transactions.

Competition from traditional retail: Traditional brick-and-mortar shops continue to dominate the retail panorama in Qatar, posing stiff opposition to digital shops. Established retail chains and purchasing shops entice a full-size part of purchaser spending, making it hard for e-commerce players to compete on charge, convenience, and brand recognition.

Customer trust and brand reputation: Building agreement with and credibility with customers is important for virtual stores to achieve Qatar’s e-commerce market. Establishing a reputable brand image, turning in notable products and services, and imparting first-rate customer support is critical for earning and preserving consumer agreement in a competitive online market.

Digital skills and talent acquisition: Recruiting and keeping skilled professionals with an understanding of e-commerce, digital advertising, and technology can be difficult for outlets in Qatar. The demand for digital skills exceeds neighborhood delivery, leading to skills shortages and competency gaps that restrict the implementation of effective e-commerce market growth strategies and tasks.

Cross-border trade and customs regulations: eCommerce retailers seeking to expand their reach beyond Qatar’s borders face challenges associated with cross-border trade and customs regulations. Complex import/export tactics, customs obligations, and regulatory compliance requirements can increase the cost and complexity of international e-commerce operations, impacting profitability and scalability.

https://www.statista.com/outlook/emo/ecommerce/qatar#revenue

Number crunching
• Revenue in the eCommerce Market is projected to reach US$3,795.00 million in 2025.
• Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 8.15 percent, resulting in a projected market volume of US$5,192.00 million by 2029.
• With a projected market volume of US$1,773.00 billion in 2025, most revenue is generated in China.
• In the eCommerce Market, the number of users is expected to amount to 1,609.0k users by 2029.
• User penetration will be 45.1 percent in 2025 and is expected to hit 57.9 percent by 2029.
• The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to amount to US$3.12k.
Source: https://www.statista.com/outlook/emo/ecommerce/qatar

eCommerce Trends in Qatar
E-commerce in Qatar is experiencing a substantial surge, driven by various developments shaping the virtual retail landscape within the country. Here are a few prominent e-commerce traits reflected in Qatar’s eCommerce market growth:

Cellphone dominance: Qatar has one of the highest cellphone penetration costs globally, which is reflected in the dominance of mobile commerce.

Rise of online marketplaces: Marketplaces such as Souq.Com, Jazp.Com, and Lulu Hypermarket’s online stores are witnessing accelerated traction, presenting purchasers with a handy buying experience and getting entry to various merchandise.

Demand for fast and reliable delivery: eCommerce shops in Qatar invest in efficient logistics and last-mile delivery solutions to ensure well-timed shipping of orders, improving consumer delight and loyalty and maximising eCommerce market growth.

Personalised shopping experiences: AI-controlled personalization is becoming an increasing standard in Qatar’s e-commerce zone. Retailers leverage customer records and gadget-mastering algorithms to provide personalised suggestions, promotions, and shopping reports tailor-made to individual possibilities and browsing behaviour.

Digital payments adoption: Popular strategies include credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and online banking platforms.

Focus on sustainability and ethical consumption: There is a developing cognizance and challenge amongst Qatari consumers concerning environmental sustainability and ethical consumption. E-commerce outlets are responding to this trend by providing eco-friendly products, selling sustainable practices, and helping social causes, catering to the possibilities of socially aware consumers.

Expansion of product categories: Consumers now have to get entry to various merchandise, including groceries, home essentials, splendour products, and more, contributing to the boom and diversification of the e-commerce market growth.

Integration of Augmented Reality (AR): Retailers are leveraging AR technology to beautify web shopping by allowing virtual try-tons of products. Customers can preview how merchandise will appear or suit before making a purchase, reducing the chance of returns and enhancing confidence in their shopping decisions.

Shift towards omnichannel retailing: The lines between online and offline retail are blurring as outlets embody omnichannel techniques to provide a continuing purchasing experience across more than one touchpoint. Click-and-gather services, in-keep pickups, and integration of online and offline inventory are becoming more commonplace, catering to the options of omnichannel consumers.

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