Web Summit 2024 is a fillip to Qatar’s strategic vision

Qatar today makes a quantum leap in the quest to be a key tech hub with the launch of the Web Summit Qatar 2024. The four-day first-of-its-kind conference in the region will unite thousands of global entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders. Qatar will host the Web Summit for five years in a process that leverages the country’s strategic position and advanced infrastructure to connect international entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders.
Described as the world’s largest technology conference, the event will see 12,000 participants. Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor al-Thani, the chairman of Web Summit Qatar 2024 Organising Committee, anticipates that the numbers would exceed “20,000” by the end of the event, which is the summit’s first sold-out edition in the region.
The event, running until February 29, will welcome the largest and most globally diverse cohort of startups to ever gather in the region – more than 1,000 startups from 80 countries, alongside over 500 investors and LPs from around the world seeking investment opportunities in the region. The startups and partnership programmes sold out four weeks before the event. The top themes during the summit are entrepreneurship, venture capital, Artificial Intelligence, energy, advertising and marketing, space exploration, and fintech, while a wide range of topics will be discussed by a distinguished panel of speakers and industry experts at the event.
Hosting of the path-breaking event is a fillip to Qatar’s strategic vision and substantial investment in a business-friendly economy, positioning it as a burgeoning hub for global entrepreneurs and investors. Qatar believes in the power of global trade and collaboration to drive growth, peace and prosperity and continues to provide a welcoming business environment for foreign investors, who enjoy competitive benefits, including up to 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of profits. Qatar actively participates in various multilateral organisations and initiatives to promote cross-border trade, including through free trade agreements. As a global energy leader at the crossroads of east, west, and the global south, Qatar is strategically located at the centre of some of the world’s most important trade routes.
With state-of-the-art facilities, an award-winning national carrier Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport, seamless public transportation networks, open visa policies and a strategic central location, Qatar has become a key destination for businesses to grow their Middle Eastern presence. Qatar, which has strong economic ties with emerging markets across the world, continues to explore opportunities for further collaboration across sectors. Qatar enjoys strong economic and diplomatic ties with key emerging market hubs in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Qatar Investment Authority, as well as national champions such as Ooredoo and Qatar Airways, actively explore opportunities in a range of emerging markets with attractive investment environments.
Qatar makes investment decisions based on long-term economic and financial criteria and seeks to promote sustainable development across the world, while offering seamless market access and connectivity, located at the gateway between East and West with $8.5 trillion in combined GDP all within 3,000km. Qatar plays an essential role in the world economy as a long-term strategic partner to nations and businesses worldwide.
The laurels accrued by Qatar are many: First for entrepreneurship in the Arab world (Global Entrepreneurship Index) and investment momentum globally (fDi Intelligence), second most competitive economy in Mena (IMD World competitiveness ranking) and second in the Middle East in Global Finance Safety Index; 8% Average annual GDP growth the past 20 years, fourth highest GDP per capita (PPP basis), eighth globally for Government long-term vision (WEF), Double Taxation Agreements (DTA) with 80+ countries and fixed exchange rate (1USD = QR3.64).