Web Summit Qatar 2026 draws strong international startup participation
More than 1600 startups, 85% from abroad
Record participation signals strong support for startup growth
Qatar offers a supportive innovation ecosystem built on equal opportunity
Record international participation and strong engagement from global startups at Web Summit Qatar 2026 has reinforced Qatar’s position as a leading regional and international hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. Held in Doha from 1 to 4 February, the third edition of the summit further highlighted Qatar’s growing role in building an open and attractive business environment for talent and investment, while strengthening links between regional and global markets.
This participation also reflects the high level of confidence in the country’s enabling investment environment for startups and entrepreneurs, which provides opportunities for growth and expansion at local, regional, and international markets, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 to diversify the national economy and promote innovation and entrepreneurship as pillars of sustainable growth.
This ecosystem is reinforced through national support initiatives, including Startup Qatar and the Fund of Funds program under Qatar Investment Authority. During his opening address at Web Summit Qatar 2026, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced the expansion of the Fund of Funds through additional investments amounting to USD 2 billion.
The initiatives announced by HE the Prime Minister also included the launch of a ten-year residency program for entrepreneurs, founders, and senior executives, as well as the facilitation of company registration procedures for summit participants. This reflects Qatar’s commitment to providing an integrated environment that enables startups to confidently venture into new markets and achieve sustainable success.
Nanette Sene, Co-founder and CEO of Canadian startup Juno Technologies, which specialises in woman’s healthcare solutions, affirmed that Qatar is a promising destination for investment, particularly for early-stage startups, especially in the medical technology sector.
She said during her participation in the summit: “Qatar is a strong investment destination, particularly in early-stage and medtech. We’ve seen growing interest in women’s health, which makes it an exciting space for us. Qatar offers valuable opportunities for startups, especially through connections with potential investors and business partners, and by encouraging startups to relocate and join the ecosystem locally.”
Roanne El Alaili, Founder of UAE-based fashion tech company &Again, which was among the final three startups in PITCH, the summit’s flagship startup competition sponsored by Jusour, expressed her appreciation for participating in Web Summit Qatar 2026. She noted that the event exceeded her expectations in terms of organisation, as well as the quality of attendees and calibre of speakers. She added: “The startup ecosystem in Qatar looks amazing. There are so many things that support the life cycle of a company, and I would personally love to expand here. We’re still early-stage, but we’ll definitely be coming to Qatar.”
Regarding his plans to expand and grow in Qatar and the region, Kirolus Ghattas, Co-founder of Launchyfi, a UK-based software services company, explained that his company’s participation in Web Summit Qatar aimed to better understand the regional business landscape and explore the Gulf region as a gateway for global growth.
Ghattas added: “Since coming to Web Summit Qatar, we’ve been in active discussions with Startup Qatar, Qatar Development Bank, and Qatar Financial Centre, and we’re now exploring moving our business operations to Doha or the wider region to support our global growth.”
In the same context, Khadijah Rankine, Chief Strategy Officer at US-based platform Mamun Cofoundr, which specialises in connecting like-minded founders and entrepreneurs, praised Qatar’s support for innovation and its efforts to stimulate startup growth. She expressed her enthusiasm for her first visit to Qatar and her aspiration to register the platform in Qatar in the future.
She said: “At Web Summit Qatar, I met a lot of like-minded founders and had meaningful conversations about how Qatar can support startups and early-stage companies”
Web Summit Qatar 2026 saw the participation of 1,637 startups, of which international startups accounted for 85 per cent, clearly reflecting the summit’s global diversity and its ability to attract entrepreneurs from various continents and sectors.
This wide and diverse international participation confirms that Web Summit Qatar has become a globally influential platform that strengthens Qatar’s position as a regional and international hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. The summit offers a supportive, growth-oriented environment that helps startups scale, access new markets, and build sustainable businesses based on innovation, diversity, and equal opportunity.
