Qatar is positioning itself as a leading technology hub, attracting international interest and investment in its burgeoning startup ecosystem. This ambition is best exemplified by the recent hosting of Web Summit Qatar, a major tech conference that took place in February 2025, drawing over 15,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. The event highlighted Qatar's commitment to innovation and its strategic plans to become a gateway for foreign businesses into the MENA region.
Mukhammad Khalil, the Founder of Startup Garage, emphasized Qatar's potential during an interview with The Peninsula. He noted, "As part of our expansion, we plan to launch our Qatar office in Q2 2025 with a team of four employees focused on business development, venture partnerships, and startup acceleration." This expansion follows Qatar’s significant investment of more than $10 billion in innovation and entrepreneurship as outlined in the Qatar National Vision 2030. Moreover, the country has allocated $2.8 billion specifically toward AI and cloud infrastructure, which underlines its ambition to lead in technological advancements.
Khalil pointed out that Qatar ranks first in the MENA region for broadband speed and sixth globally. These rankings attract many tech-savvy companies interested in establishing themselves in a rapidly growing market. The startup ecosystem in the GCC is anticipated to exceed $100 billion in venture capital investments by 2030, which aligns with Startup Garage’s focus on expanding Uzbek startups into these lucrative markets.
Moreover, the participation of the Canadian-Qatari Business Forum (CQBF) at Web Summit Qatar reflects a concerted effort to harness the close ties between Qatar and Canada. Yasser Dhouib, the Executive Director of the CQBF, mentioned that their objective is to position Qatar as a strategic hub for Canadian businesses targeting the MENA region. This initiative seeks not only to boost bilateral trade but also to foster technological collaborations.
During the summit, Dhouib highlighted that the delegation engaged with multiple Qatari stakeholders, facilitating discussions aimed at encouraging Canadian companies to explore investment opportunities in Qatar. The team included senior advisers like Ibrahim Abdel Halim and Vartika Manasvi, who is tasked with establishing a platform for strategic business partnerships in the next four years. Dhouib remarked, "This adds to the extraordinary impact made by both nations’ top diplomats, Qatar’s ambassador to Canada, Khalid bin Rashid al-Mansouri, and Canadian ambassador, Isabelle Martin." Their efforts have helped strengthen the diplomatic and economic relationship between Canada and Qatar.
The CQBF is advocating for a Qatar-based Deep Tech Fund, aiming to leverage Canadian expertise in research and technology commercialization. This initiative could bridge significant gaps between the two nations' tech sectors, particularly in energy tech, artificial intelligence (AI), health tech, and smart cities. Such collaboration is vital for startups looking to penetrate MENA markets, especially for those in Central Asia seeking expansion opportunities.
Reflecting on the burgeoning startup scene, Khalil shared insights about Uzbekistan's emerging market, which is currently growing at a rate of over 20 percent annually. He stated, "One of our primary goals is to bridge the startup ecosystems of Central Asia and MENA." This ambition towards creating cross-regional opportunities is crucial, as access to larger markets remains a challenge for Uzbek startups.
Qatar’s robust technological infrastructure not only makes it an attractive location for innovation but also aids in the establishment of co-investment networks with local venture capitalists and angel investors. The startup sector in Qatar has enjoyed considerable success, attracting over $400 million in investments in 2023 alone. Furthermore, in the MENA region, venture capital funding totaled $8.4 billion in the same year, showcasing the growing interest in tech-driven enterprises.
As Startup Garage prepares to integrate Uzbek founders into this landscape, Khalil plans to rely on initiatives like the Startup Garage Founders School and Startup Garage Ventures. These programs aim to equip founders with the necessary resources and connections to scale effectively within Qatar’s investment ecosystem.
With plans for a delegation led by Philippe Couillard, the 31st Premier of Quebec, to visit Qatar next month, the momentum for Canadian-Qatari collaboration is expected to continue growing. This forthcoming delegation is anticipated to bring further innovations, particularly in healthcare and technologies related to diabetes, promoting more substantial engagement between the two countries.
In summary, the advancements reflected through recent collaborations at Web Summit Qatar and the proactive initiatives outlined by both the CQBF and Startup Garage underscore Qatar’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to technological growth. These developments signal a promising future for startups looking to expand in the MENA and Central Asian regions.