Building Qatar’s Future:
Our Global Partnerships

01/ Snap Inc.

The GCO signed an MoU with Snap Inc. to launch the first Augmented Reality Academy in the MENA region.

The Academy builds on the GCO’s commitment to upskill local media and communications talent, focusing on the digital and creative content industry.

Goal

Empower regional talent and strengthen creative content.

Key Initiatives:

• Launching MENA’s First Augmented Reality Academy

Establish a dedicated AR Academy in Doha to train regional creators in advanced AR development.

• Workshops and Mentorship

Host hands‑on workshops and expert mentorship sessions led by Snap’s AR specialists.

“Our partnership with Qatar and the GCO started two years ago. Today is something that we’re very happy about—we’re able to sign an agreement that allows us to build our developer community not only within Qatar, but also in the region and the globe.”

Hussein Freijeh

Vice President and General Manager of Snap Inc. MENA

02/ Web Summit

Qatar has formed a partnership with Web Summit to host the global event in Doha.

Gathering thousands of entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders from all around the world, the event has resulted in several partnerships signed between Qatar and international entities.

Goals

1. Position Qatar as a gateway between MENA startups and international investors.
2. Leverage the summit to attract FDI, tourism growth and entrepreneurial collaboration.

Key Initiative:

• Multi-Year Hosting Agreement

Web Summit will continue to return to Doha through 2028, amplifying Qatar’s tech-innovation ecosystem.

“Qatar for me is booming. It’s been an incredible partner. We’re trying to catch locations that are in a kind of hockey stick moment where things are changing potentially very fast. It’s just a huge increase in the number of Qatari startups out on the floor. So my instinct is there’s absolutely something happening.”

Paddy Cosgrave

Founder and CEO of Web Summit

03/ TikTok

The GCO and TikTok signed an MoU to expand Qatar’s digital footprint and showcasing its creator economy on the global social platform.

Under this MoU, TikTok will establish the first creative studio in the country, supporting world-class TikTok campaign creations.

Goal

Key Initiatives:

• First Creative Studio in Doha

Establish TikTok’s inaugural in‑country studio to support local campaign asset production.

• Creator Workshops & Upskilling

Deliver hands‑on workshops to train Qatari talent in best‑practice content creation and platform tools.

“Qatar is witnessing remarkable development in terms of digital infrastructure, making it a leading tech hub in the Middle East and Asia. This MoU with GCO underscores our commitment to the local creative ecosystem, and we are excited to be part of Qatar’s growing tech industry.”

Shadi Kandil

General Manager, Global Business Solutions at TikTok METAP & EE

04/ Amazon Ads

The GCO signed an MoU with Amazon Ads to collaborate on projects that support Qatar’s digital transformation journey.

The partnership encompasses the launch of the Digital Academy, offering training in digital media, advertising and technology for current and future business leaders.

Goal

Empower Qatar’s digital economy.

Key Initiatives:

• Digital Academy Launch

Establish a training academy focused on digital media, advertising and technology for current and future business leaders.

• SME E‑Commerce Growth Support

Provide support and training for Qatari businesses to sell their products on Amazon’s global platform.

“We’re looking forward to the potential this MOU establishes—from growing SMEs to educating the youth and executives across Qatar, as well as collaborating on the biggest topics shaping the industry and digital media in general. We’re looking forward to the implementation. The real work starts now.”

Rayan Karaky

International Expansion Managing Director EMEA and Southeast Asia at Amazon

05/ Dow Jones

Dow Jones announced plans to establish a base of operations in Qatar in 2025.

This partnership includes Qatar’s hosting of the Wall Street Journal Tech: Qatar conference, a premier gathering of CEOs, investors and technology leaders.

Goal

Convene global CEOs, investors and innovators to explore emerging technologies and drive Qatar’s digital transformation.

Key Initiatives:

• WSJ Tech: Qatar

Launching in December 2025, the multi-year invitation-only conference runs annually.

• Regional Office in Doha

Dow Jones registers and operates in Media City Qatar.

“Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal deliver reliable journalism, data and analytics to business professionals worldwide, and to do so we must reflect the entire global business community. With the MENA region’s growth and increased role in tech–especially at the intersection of AI and the energy sector–we are delighted to be partnering with Qatar.”

Almar Latour

CEO of Dow Jones

06/ iHeartMedia

The GCO signed a multi-year partnership with podcasting giant iHeartMedia.

Under this partnership, iHeartMedia will establish a regional podcasting hub, an important step that uplifts Qatar’s standing as a regional hub for digital content creation.

Goal

Cultivate audio storytelling and position Qatar as podcast hub.

Key Initiatives:

• Podcast Studio Infrastructure

Construction of a world-class podcast studio in Doha to host global and local productions.

• Original Content and Masterclasses

Development of original podcasts and specialised training programmes for Arab creators.

“Our partnership with the GCO provides a great opportunity to work together to push the boundaries of podcasting today—and what it can become in the future.”

Bob Pittman

Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia

07/ Fanatics

The GCO announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Fanatics, a global digital sports platform.

This agreement includes the sponsorship of Fanatics Fest – a premier global sporting event – as well as opening a Fanatics regional hub of operations in Qatar as part of the platform’s expansion into the region.

Goal

Strengthen Qatar’s ties to the international sports community and Fanatics’ global network through global sports integration.

Key Initiatives:

• Fanatics Fest Sponsorship

Qatar’s lead sponsorship of Fanatics Fest, running from 20–22 June 2025 in New York City.

• Exclusive Networking Lounge

The GCO is set to host a premium lounge at Fanatics Fest for sports, business and culture leaders to connect.

“We are reimagining what a global partnership truly means in today’s world, where sports, business and community are all blending. I have great respect for Sheikh Jassim and together we will find unique ways to amplify the unique network that Fanatics has built to create memorable experiences for sports fans and business leaders of Qatar, while also reintroducing everyone to the region.”

Michael Hermalyn

President of Fanatics VIP

08/ Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia 

The Government Communications Office signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia on the sidelines of Web Summit Qatar 2026.

The three-year partnership supports Qatar’s efforts to expand its global network across innovation, entrepreneurship and the digital economy.

Goal

Increase the participation of startups, investors and decision-makers from Serbia in future editions of Web Summit Qatar, while exploring opportunities for collaboration in international events and strengthening economic and technological ties between the two countries.

Key Initiatives:

• National pavilion for Serbian startups

Launch a dedicated pavilion for Serbian startups at Web Summit Qatar, showcasing their innovations and creating new opportunities for collaboration and investment.

“We look forward to bringing this partnership to life by combining Serbia’s strong expertise with deep knowledge of the Qatari market, delivering tangible results on the ground.”

Marko Čadež

President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in Qatar

09/ American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar

The Government Communications Office signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar on the sidelines of Web Summit Qatar 2026.

The agreement reflects Qatar’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with leading international institutions, supporting a dynamic business environment and advancing the country’s innovation ecosystem.

Goal

Support US startup and innovator presence at the summit, while exploring opportunities for collaboration in international events and strengthening economic and technological ties between Qatar and the United States.

Key Initiatives:

• Enhancing US participation at the summit

Increase the presence of startups, investors and decision-makers from the United States at Web Summit Qatar, expanding collaboration across technology and entrepreneurship.

• Expanding collaboration in international events

Explore opportunities for joint participation in global forums and events, supporting knowledge exchange and building strategic partnerships.

“This memorandum marks an important milestone in our ongoing collaboration with the Government Communications Office. We look forward to strengthening this partnership and expanding opportunities for engagement between American innovators and Qatar’s growing technology and business ecosystem.”

Jay Turk

Chairman, American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar