Qatar reinforced its ambition to become a global technology and innovation hub as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani opened Web Summit Qatar 2026 with major incentives for startups and investors.
Addressing founders, investors, and tech leaders from over 120 countries, the Prime Minister announced the expansion of the Qatar Investment Authority’s Fund of Funds, adding $2 billion to the initial $1 billion commitment and attracting 12 major venture capital firms to Doha.
He also introduced a 10-year residency programme for entrepreneurs and executives, high-performance compute credits for Qatar-based startups, and a fast-track process allowing founders to complete company formation, banking, and residency within days during the summit.
The Prime Minister highlighted an eightfold expansion of Qatar Development Bank’s startup programme for 2026 after applications exceeded 6,000 last year, underlining Qatar’s drive to actively build the digital future through global collaboration.
Web Summit Founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave described the event as a reflection of a “multipolar” tech world, noting participation from 1,600 startups, 85% of which are international. He cited the rise of new global innovators and emphasized Qatar’s growing role in shaping this new technology landscape.
