Prime Minister attends opening of World Investment Forum 2026
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the opening of the ninth edition of the World Investment Forum, hosted by Qatar in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), under the theme “Investing in the Future”.
HE the Prime Minister stated: “Amid regional and global developments and their economic impact, international forums foster cooperation to address challenges. We hope the World Investment Forum in Doha will help shape visions and solutions that support the future of investment and the global economy.”
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, affirmed in a message read on his behalf by Nan Li Collins, Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD, that the forum represents an opportunity to encourage the private sector to drive investment in developing countries, particularly in renewable energy, technology, and critical minerals, thereby creating opportunities that benefit these communities.
He said that the world faces immense global challenges, and that the forum, in addressing the theme of investing in the future, affirms an indisputable truth: investment is an expression of confidence that the future can be better.
HE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, affirmed that Qatar has chosen openness, flexibility, and partnership as a clear approach to the shifts in the global economy and the uncertainty that accompanies them. He explained that Qatar built an attractive regulatory environment through advanced infrastructure, strong institutions, and open economic policies, driving investor confidence.
He pointed out that Qatar attracted 373 foreign direct investment projects last year, an increase of 50% on the previous year, creating over 15,000 new jobs. To sustain this momentum, Qatar launched a USD 1 billion investment incentive program targeting a number of priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing, logistics, technology, digital services, and financial services.
HE the Minister highlighted how these directions are translating into tangible investment opportunities, with Qatar recently announcing a package of new infrastructure projects worth a total of nearly USD 38.5 billion over the next five years, alongside anticipated private sector investments of around USD 22 billion in real estate and hospitality. He noted that these are not simply figures reflecting the scale of investment, but real opportunities for investors and companies to build long-term investments.
He said: “From this perspective, we aspire to consolidate Qatar’s position as a platform from which investments and partnerships launch towards global and regional markets. Qatar is not merely an investment destination, but an international investor and partner committed to building long-term partnerships.”
More than 5,000 participants are taking part in the forum, including heads of government, ministers, chief executives, and leaders of international organisations, alongside entrepreneurs, academics, and experts, as well as 406 speakers.
Over three days, participants will discuss the most prominent shifts and challenges facing global investment, as well as ways to enhance international cooperation to keep pace with rapid economic changes.
The forum’s program features 108 high-level sessions and dialogues distributed across eight main tracks, including investment in artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), investment policies, sustainable finance and business, tourism and culture, climate and environment, alongside investment promotion, and special economic zones.
