More than 30,000 participants have converged in Doha as Web Summit Qatar 2026 gets underway, bringing together startups, global investors, policymakers and technology leaders to debate the trends reshaping the digital economy.
The opening day featured a packed agenda of startup pitch sessions, investor meetings and panel discussions spanning artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, tech geopolitics and the creator economy. Founders from across continents are showcasing products designed to address real-world challenges, including AI-driven platforms helping small and micro sellers expand their local reach and improve online visibility.
Over 1,600 startups are participating in this year’s summit, with around 85 per cent arriving from outside Qatar. Nearly 1,000 investors are in attendance, including representatives from major international venture capital firms such as Amino Capital, Greycroft and 500 Global. The event has also drawn significant global media attention, with more than 840 international journalists covering the proceedings.
Germany has made a particularly strong showing at the 2026 edition, fielding its largest delegation to date. More than 200 German startups, investors and decision-makers are participating through a dedicated pavilion, highlighting innovations across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, deep tech and industrial solutions. Organisers say the focus extends beyond showcasing technology to building partnerships, supporting market entry and strengthening long-term collaboration, reflecting deepening innovation ties between Germany and Qatar.
The summit opened with an address by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, who spoke on the relationship between language, identity and technology in the age of artificial intelligence.
In her remarks, Sheikha Moza underscored the importance of embedding human values amid rapid digital transformation, particularly in the Arab world. “Today, in the Arab world, we face a rare turning point, where resources alone no longer suffice,” she said. “What is required today is the building of trust between minds and institutions and faith in the Arabic language, and in the creative power it has enabled through the ages.”
She cautioned that Arabic is now facing a defining moment in the technological era. “Today, Arabic fights its decisive battle on the frontlines of technology. This battle is not over tools, but over meaning, identity, and the power to persist,” she said, adding that the survival of any language depends on collective will, self-driven growth and the mobilisation of intellectual and cultural energies.
The summit features a high-profile lineup of speakers, including Canva co-founder Cliff Obrecht, IBM Chief Impact Officer Justina Nixon-Saintil, Twitch creator Hasan Piker, Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, and senior executives from global technology companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft.
Major international firms including TikTok, Google Cloud, IBM, Figma, Amazon and Snapchat have set up interactive booths showcasing tools and applications in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and cloud computing. Qatar-based companies, including Qatar Airways, Ooredoo, talabat, Snoonu, PayLater and Qatar Science & Technology Park, are also presenting products and services, highlighting the country’s push to build a diversified, innovation-led economy.
Web Summit Qatar 2026 is organised around 14 thematic tracks addressing issues shaping global innovation, from AI governance and clean energy transitions to digital regulation, health technology, robotics and the future of sport. Dedicated spaces for investors, startups, mentors and women in tech are designed to encourage collaboration, partnerships and commercial activity throughout the multi-day event.
