When Qatar first hosted the Web Summit in 2024, it did more than bring one of the world’s most influential technology gatherings to the Middle East. It signalled an ambition to reposition itself as an emerging global node of innovation, capital and entrepreneurial energy. Two years later, as Qatar prepares for the third edition of the summit, that ambition has evolved into a structured national strategy. The country is no longer merely hosting an event; it is using the summit as a tool to build a world-class investment ecosystem, attract global venture capital and establish itself as a technology power centre in the Gulf.
The scale of the summit reflects this intent. This year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 30,000 participants from over 120 countries, including 1,500 startups, 700 investors and 600 media representatives—making it the largest Web Summit to date. For a country with a population of under three million, this represents a remarkable concentration of global innovation and capital.
Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee, has described the summit as central to Qatar’s broader economic repositioning. The first two editions, he has said, helped cement the country’s place on the global technology stage, showcasing its infrastructure, technological readiness and organisational capacity, and establishing Qatar as a preferred destination for major international events.
That foundation is now being built upon with greater clarity of purpose under Qatar National Vision 2030. Preparations for the third edition, Sheikh Jassim noted, aim to deliver the most ambitious summit yet in terms of experience, content and international participation—reflecting the rapid maturation of Qatar’s innovation ecosystem and its desire to shape global conversations on technology and entrepreneurship.
Capital, Capability, Scale
If the early editions demonstrated Qatar’s capacity to host a major global event, subsequent years have shown that the summit is being deployed as a strategic instrument—to attract investment, facilitate startup growth and position Doha as a gateway for technology deployment across the Gulf.
This shift is most clearly reflected in the Qatar Investment Authority’s launch of a $1 billion Fund of Funds, announced at Web Summit Qatar 2024. The initiative targets one of the most persistent bottlenecks in emerging markets: the shortage of Series A to C capital required for startups to scale. By investing in established international venture funds, QIA is effectively importing expertise, networks and deal-making capacity into the country.
According to Dr. Mohsin Pirzada, head of funds at QIA, Qatar had built strong momentum at the seed stage, but founders were “running into a wall” as they sought growth capital. At the same time, global venture firms were keen to expand into the region but lacked a stable, long-term platform. The Fund of Funds was designed to bridge that gap—connecting ambitious founders with experienced investors while giving global VCs a credible base in Qatar.
Six venture firms have already been selected from more than a hundred applicants across the US, Asia and the Middle East. Their role extends beyond capital deployment; they are expected to embed sector knowledge, global relationships and institutional discipline within Qatar’s startup ecosystem.
The impact is beginning to show. Web Summit Qatar has become a key platform linking startups to accelerators, incubators and government-backed support. Startups from more than sixty countries have confirmed participation this year, underscoring Qatar’s growing appeal. Local participation has surged as well, with 228 Qatari startups at the last edition—a 140 per cent increase over the inaugural summit.
Several early success stories illustrate the summit’s catalytic effect. Ahmed El Abed, co-founder and CEO of Be My Sense, has described the 2025 summit as a turning point that enabled his company to secure backing from Qatar Development Bank and the Qatar Business Incubation Centre, supporting global expansion. EnergyX CEO Sean Park has credited the summit with facilitating investment commitments exceeding $100 million across the Gulf and prompting the company to establish its regional base under the Qatar Financial Centre.
Building a Gulf Gateway
Beyond startups, Qatar has invested heavily in positioning itself as a trusted, neutral gateway for international capital. With strong credit ratings, long-term gas contracts secured through 2050 and world-class infrastructure, the country presents itself as a safe home for long-horizon technology investment. The Web Summit functions as an annual amplifier of that message.
As Qatar looks ahead to the 2026 summit, its objectives are crystallising around three goals: anchoring global venture capital in Doha, creating pathways for international startups to enter the Gulf through Qatar, and equipping local founders with the capital and networks needed to compete globally.
Qatar’s ambition, then, is not simply to host the world. It is to convene it, shape it and become indispensable to it. Web Summit Qatar has emerged as the engine driving that vision—building an investment ecosystem, strengthening the technology sector and positioning the country at the centre of a rapidly shifting global innovation map.
