Doha, Qatar: The decision to host the Web Summit 2025 has proven to be transformative for Qatar’s tech ecosystem, marking a pivotal moment as this event becomes the first of its kind outside Lisbon since the conference's migration to Portugal. According to Web Summit Founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave, this choice, initially met with skepticism, has been deemed one of the best decisions made by the organization. "It has been the absolute right decision, maybe the best decision we’ve ever kind of made, and things are only going from strength to strength," Cosgrave stated, reflecting the event's remarkable impact on both participants and the region.
This year, the summit has attracted 25,747 attendees from 124 countries, showcasing a remarkable increase from the previous year. Among the attendees were 1,520 startups, bolstered by the support of 723 investors, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit burgeoning within this gathering. Notably, nearly half (47.7%) of these startups were founded by women, representing over 50% growth from last year. With 37% of attendees being women, the summit strongly emphasized diversity and inclusion within the tech industry.
Add to this mix Qatar’s own startup scene, which has seen exponential growth: local startup participation surged by 140%, from 95 exhibitors last year to 228 this year. This shift not only showcases the depth of innovation within Qatar but also its rising stature as a key player on the global technological stage. With 168 partner organizations, including tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, TikTok, and Huawei, the event serves as a conduit for major industry leaders to engage with the innovators who will shape the future.
Across six stages, 381 speakers participated, addressing key themes relevant to the current tech climate. Topics included the Middle East's emergence as a tech hub, financial inequality's impact on the FinTech sector, and the growing influence of generative AI, which dominated discussions throughout the summit. These conversations helped contextualize Qatar’s broader ambitions within the global tech community.
QRDI (Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation) Council played a significant role at the summit, continuing its efforts to promote innovation and global partnerships. Nejoud Al Jehani, Senior Director of Policy Planning and Evaluation at QRDI, emphasized the remarkable progress made since last year. "We’ve not only seen growth in startup-related indicators…but Qatar’s overall performance in the Global Innovation Index has significantly improved," she noted. Qatar has advanced 23 places over the past four years, demonstrating the effectiveness of QRDI’s initiatives.
Al Jehani described the previous year’s summit as highly successful, stating, "The engagement from startups, tech enthusiasts, and government entities exceeded expectations, and we knew we had to take it to the next level this year." QRDI presented several key initiatives at this year’s event, including the Innovation Lighthouse program, which aligns with Qatar’s third national development strategy to create a vibrant ecosystem for research, development, and innovation.
One outstanding success resulting from QRDI’s involvement is the Alchemist programme, which has been developing partnerships with organizations like QDB (Qatar Development Bank) and QSTP (Qatar Science and Technology Park). "The ripple effect from last year’s launch has been deep... we’re already seeing Alchemist’s impact with several deals closed," Al Jehani stated, highlighting the program's importance for facilitating successful collaborations within the tech sector.
Qatar is not only building its local tech capacity but is also enhancing its global presence through strategic partnerships with countries such as the UK, Spain, Turquie, and Singapore. These collaborations, including AI initiatives with the UK and the Qatar-Spain Co-Innovation programme, allow for knowledge exchange and co-innovation opportunities. Al Jehani remarked, "These international collaborations are a cornerstone of QRDI’s mission to be globally connected. We are proud to have programmes with countries such as Sweden, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia, continuously seeking new opportunities for innovation."
Significantly, the digital tourism sector is also on the rise, showcased by the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Visit Qatar and Microsoft during the summit. This collaboration aims to drive digital innovation in the tourism sector through projects such as the Visit Qatar GenAI Travel Concierge, which utilizes Microsoft technology to redefine visitor experiences. Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, stated, "This innovation has set new standards for digital excellence in tourism," indicating the ambitious goal to position Qatar as a leader in this area.
The cooperative efforts of multiple stakeholders, numerous meetups for various communities, and the summit’s inclusive ethos contribute to fostering connections and collaboration among startup founders and industry leaders at Web Summit Qatar 2025. The event's emphasis on diverse interests, including initiatives to support neurodiverse communities, enhances the overall scope and outreach of the summit.
Going forward, Web Summit Qatar continues to be more than just a conference; it is rapidly becoming a significant player on the global tech stage, agglomerated with potential for partnerships and innovation. With the event’s success reflected through increased participation and collaboration, Qatar’s aspirations of becoming a global tech hub are steadily materializing.