Doha, Qatar: Web Summit Qatar 2025 concluded on Wednesday after four dynamic days at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, reaffirming its status as a premier global tech event. With over 25,700 attendees, this year's summit saw participation soar by more than 10,000 from the previous year, solidifying Qatar's position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The event brought together 723 investors and 1,520 startups, 47% of which were founded by women—a remarkable increase of 51% from last year's numbers. The Startup Qatar pavilion attracted heightened interest, showcasing the effectiveness of incentives offered by the Qatar Financial Centre, with more than 1,634 companies having registered to open offices within Qatar during this summit.
Significantly, 156 operating licences were granted during the event, and 56 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Qatari institutions and leading global tech firms—doubling the number from last year. These agreements delineate Qatar's growing influence on the global stage as it nurtures innovation.
HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, described the event as, “a defining moment in Qatar's progression toward building knowledge-based economies and fostering innovation.” He elaborated, “Web Summit Qatar 2025 has provided a world-class platform for international collaboration and solidified Qatar's role as a driving force in shaping the future of a sustainable, globally competitive and diversified economy, aligned with our National Vision 2030.”
The summit also featured active participation from 228 Qatari startups, showcasing innovative solutions to the tech community worldwide. Sheikh Jassim noted the significant contributions of these startups to enhancing Qatar's investment ecosystem, elevin the role of Qatari entrepreneurs on the global stage. He remarked, “Hosting Web Summit is a strategic initiative... establishing Qatar as a leading global hub for innovation and technology.”
Paddy Cosgrave, Founder and CEO of Web Summit, acknowledged the remarkable growth of this year’s summit, stating, “We achieved record-breaking participation... providing invaluable opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and networking.” He praised the rising numbers, indicating the continuing attractiveness of Qatar’s startup ecosystem, with attendance rising by 72%, startup exhibition numbers increasing by 45%, and Qatari startup participation climbing by 140%.
Panels and discussions at the event focused on advancing entrepreneurship, with notable insights shared by HE Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau. He reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to being identified as a global entrepreneurship destination through coherent national strategies, referencing the inception of Qatar's National Vision back in 2008 and its evolution through successive development strategies. Dr. Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of venture capital funding and infrastructural support, mentioning the role of Qatar Development Bank, which aids startups by providing access to necessary resources.
One of the highlight events was the PITCH competition, sponsored by Jusour for its second consecutive year, which attracted burgeoning companies eager to showcase their business propositions on the global stage. On the final day, the winner was announced: Metalchemy, which focuses on addressing the global food waste crisis through innovative technological solutions. This competition celebrates groundbreaking innovations among early-stage startups.
AI emerged as the leading sector at the summit, comprising 17% of all participating startups, followed by notable representations from Software as a Service (SaaS), Healthtech, Fintech, and Education. The summit facilitated over 120 AI-powered meetups, greatly enhancing networking and collaboration among attendees.
With the attendance of over 700 media outlets worldwide, including prominent names such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Al Jazeera, the event garnered significant media attention, amplifying Qatar's message globally.
Looking beyond this year's event, past participants of Web Summit Qatar 2024 have reported securing $120 million in funding over the subsequent year, reflecting the summit's positive long-term impact on nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation within Qatar.
Web Summit Qatar 2025 marks yet another significant landmark for Qatar as it continuously positions itself as a leader of technological advancement and collaboration, reinforcing its commitment to the National Vision 2030 and its broader developmental strategies aimed at driving future progress.