GCO Director joins fireside discussion at WSJ Tech Live California
The session announced the list of keynote speakers for the first edition of the conference in Doha
The Wall Street Journal Tech Live 2025 conference convened in Napa Valley, California, from 4–6 November 2025, with Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO), participating in a fireside discussion on Qatar’s growing influence in the global innovation and media landscape. The conference was organised by The Wall Street Journal and brought together global leaders and decision-makers from the technology and investment sectors.
Moderated by Almar Latour, CEO of Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, the session announced the lineup of keynote speakers for the first edition of WSJ Tech Live Qatar, set to take place at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail from 2 to 4 December 2025.
The lineup of speakers includes global tennis legend Serena Williams, alongside a distinguished group of prominent figures in technology and creativity, among them Peter Bayer, CEO of the Racing Bulls Formula 1 team; artist and entrepreneur Christopher Brian Bridges (Ludacris); and HE Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization.
The list also features Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and General Partner at Seven Seven Six; Michael Rubin, CEO of Fanatics; Johanna Faries, President of Blizzard Entertainment; and David Kramer, CEO of United Talent Agency, along with several other global industry leaders across various sectors.
The discussion explored Qatar’s growing role in developing the new media sector and building an economy based on creativity and knowledge. Sheikh Jassim affirmed that Qatar continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for global technology companies and digital platforms that have made Doha their base in the region. This, he noted, reflects confidence in Qatar’s pioneering role in innovation and new media and embodies the nation’s vision of building a sustainable digital economy.
He added that Qatar is collaborating with leading international technology and digital-media companies — including Snap Inc., TikTok, iHeartMedia, Amazon, and Google — on joint projects to advance creative content and establish digital production studios in Qatar to serve content creators in the country and the region.
“The media sector is a vital industry in the region, and we’re very focused on new media — it’s something we truly care about and see as the future,” said Sheikh Jassim. “We’ve been working with major technology and platform companies to establish their presence in Qatar and operate from here to serve regional markets.”
Empowering young people is a core part of Qatar’s strategy to build a sustainable digital future. We’re working with educational institutions and leading global companies to give youth the tools and experience they need to innovate in the fields of technology and new media, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Sheikh Jassim highlighted Qatar’s partnership with iHeartMedia to launch original Arabic-speaking podcasts from Doha, representing a significant step forward in Arabic-language content aimed at global audiences, while partnerships with major technology firms are helping to build the creative economy and develop youth skills in artificial intelligence and digital media.
“Empowering young people is a core part of Qatar’s strategy to build a sustainable digital future. We’re working with educational institutions and leading global companies to give youth the tools and experience they need to innovate in the fields of technology and new media, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” he said.
He further explained that Qatar continues its efforts to attract talent from around the world, noting that the country has become an attractive environment for creative professionals who choose to live and work in Qatar and launch their ideas globally; this diversity enhances knowledge exchange and supports the growth of a thriving media sector.
During the session, Almar Latour spoke about Doha hosting the first edition of The Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference in December, praising Qatar’s strong partnership.
He said: “Qatar and the Gulf region are a thriving and increasingly dynamic tech hub. There’s enormous potential for innovation as capital, talent and ideas come together in Doha. That’s why we’re delighted to bring WSJ Tech Live to Qatar and to work with a partner that shares our commitment to high-level conversation and cross-sector collaboration.”
Sheikh Jassim noted that hosting WSJ Tech Live in Doha for the first time in the Middle East, just days after Formula 1, represents an exceptional opportunity to enhance Qatar’s international profile as a global centre for innovation and a platform for dialogue between technology and creative leaders from East and West.
Qatar’s participation in WSJ Tech Live 2025 reinforces the country’s commitment to innovation as a cornerstone of economic and social progress. It highlights the nation’s belief in technology’s power to build a more sustainable and connected future, while advancing Qatar’s vision to establish itself as a global hub for knowledge, entrepreneurship and creative talent shaping the digital economy of tomorrow.
