Momentum builds on the second day of Web Summit Qatar 2026

Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs: Qatar speaks the language of law with a digital accent

Chairman of the Film Committee at Media City Qatar: Qatar aims to become a global platform for film and entertainment

CEO of Invest Qatar: Qatar is now a destination of choice for talent and investment

The second day of Web Summit Qatar 2026, the largest and fastest-growing tech event in the region, attracted broad participation from entrepreneurs and technology leaders worldwide, with a program of panel discussions, presentations, and strategic initiatives reflecting the summit’s growing global prominence.

Sessions focused on Qatar’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, expanding the use of artificial intelligence across government services, and showcasing national achievements in technology and innovation.

In a session titled “Legislating for the age of digital transformation & AI,” HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, said: “We have launched the Smart Legislative Consultant program to modernise the way legislation is drafted and reviewed, and to reduce processing and review timelines from an average of 35 days to around five days. It is designed to enhance consistency, coherence, and the overall quality of legislation, while enabling faster implementation of state policy, without compromising human oversight or professional legal responsibility.”

He added: “When we speak about digital transformation in the government as a whole, we focus on speed, efficiency, and innovation. But in the legal sector, digital transformation carries a deeper meaning, it relates to trust, access, and rule of law. I am proud to say that Qatar speaks the language of the law with a digital accent.”

A panel was held featuring HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Thawadi, Managing Director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and Chairman of the Film Committee at Media City Qatar, alongside Ayman Mohyeldin, anchor at MSNBC. HE spoke about his ambitions following Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, and efforts to transform Qatar into a leading destination for global film production and creative works.

HE Hassan Al Thawadi affirmed: “Our aim is for Qatar to be a gateway connecting content creators in the region to global markets, and a platform that enables Arabic cont ent to reach the world. Arabic content is missing from the global narrative, and it is time for our stories to be told the way we see ourselves, and for the world to start seeing us through our own storytelling.”

A session titled “The global chip supply: Risks, gaps, and cooperation” examined key challenges and cooperative pathways in semiconductor supply chains. Participants included Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar; Max Mirgoli, Head of Global Development, Partnerships, and Ventures at imec; and Martin Cotter, Senior Vice President at Analog Devices, and was moderated by Stephen Clemons, Editor at The National Interest magazine. The discussion addressed the role of partnerships, investment, and research and development in mitigating supply-chain risks, and highlighted the growing role of the Middle East within the global semiconductor ecosystem.

Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar, said: “The expansion of the Fund of Funds program aims to revitalise the venture capital ecosystem. This step will have an indirect impact on supporting efforts to build new economic clusters and launch leading startups.”

He added: “We have invested significantly in our domestic educational infrastructure and have also been successful in attracting capital. In the past, Qatar served as a stepping stone for human capital and talent from Central Asia, South Asia, and the wider Middle East. Today, we are moving in a direction where Qatar becomes a destination in itself.”

In a panel discussion titled “The future of journalism and technology,” Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal bin Khalifa Al Thani, Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network, outlined the network’s vision for the relationship between journalism and artificial intelligence. His remarks emphasised the importance of establishing clear professional and ethical responsibilities in systems governed by algorithmic processes and ensuring that technological tools support, rather than diminish, the core values of journalism in the age of AI.

Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal bin Khalifa Al Thani said: “What we face today is not a conflict between journalism and technology, nor a contradiction between speed and meaning, but a historic opportunity to rebuild the relationship of shared responsibility. It calls for resilient journalism that can keep pace with the moment without losing its depth, alongside a conscious technology that places the human being at the centre of design, considers the impact of algorithms on societies, and balances interaction with meaning.”

During a press conference held on the sidelines of the event, a strategic partnership between Qatar and Germany was announced, through the launch of an initiative aimed at strengthening research-driven innovation and deep-tech entrepreneurship. The partnership includes the establishment of the first Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) in the GCC, alongside Deep Academy and Deep Pioneer, to support the commercialisation and scaling of research-led startups in Qatar.

The second day’s activities also included a press conference held by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, in partnership with Snoonu, attended by Eng Omar Al Ansari, Secretary General of the QRDI Council, and Hamad Al Hajri, Founder and CEO of Snoonu.

During the press conference, Snoonu Robotics was launched with support from the QRDI Council. Hamad Al Hajri noted that the company, which began its journey in 2019 as a local application, has since evolved into Qatar’s leading platform for e-commerce and smart services.

An exclusive session with iHeartMedia, the world’s largest podcast distributor, marked the official launch of iHeartArabi, a new platform focused on Arabic-language podcasts, supporting the growth of Arabic entertainment content and its wider reach.

In a panel discussion titled “Cutting through the noise: What actually drives marketing performance,” marketing leaders and industry experts explored practical approaches to achieving marketing impact amid platform proliferation and fragmented audience attention.

The session featured Jawaher Al Khuzaei, Marketing Lead Qatar at Accenture Song; Greg Williams, Deputy Global Editorial Director at WIRED; Moustafa Ismail, Head of Global Clients at Amazon Ads; Alexander Mann, Managing Director, EMEA at Meta; and Antoine Caironi, Managing Director, MENA at X. During the session, experts shared which formats, platforms, and measurement approaches deliver tangible performance, and which are proving less effective, offering practical insights on converting media spend into measurable impact.

The second day of activities at the region’s largest and fastest-growing technology event also saw the signing of 22 memoranda of understanding, including agreements between the Qatar Financial Centre and Aspire Zone Foundation; the Government Communications Office and the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar; and Ooredoo and Msheireb Properties.

The summit continues to attract leading entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers from around the world, with discussions focusing on the latest trends in technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, financial technology, and digital sustainability.

The final day of the Web Summit Qatar will feature the PITCH Final, showcasing leading startups, alongside sessions on the future of payments in the GCC and the impact of AI agents on human potential. The program will focus on innovation, financial transformation, and emerging technologies, reinforcing Web Summit Qatar’s role as a platform for global dialogue and a driver of knowledge-based economy, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.