Qatar Economic Forum highlights global platform for addressing challenges, achieving QNV 2030

The Chairman of Media City Qatar and the Organising Committee of the Qatar Economic Forum Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali bin Saud al-Thani said that the fifth edition of 'Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg,' convenes at a critical moment, shaped by deep shifts in global markets, technology, and geopolitics, which gives it increasing importance at the regional and international levels.

In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Sheikh Abdulla said that, "Preparations are well underway to welcome over 2,500 participants, including heads of state, senior government officials, CEOs of multinational companies, and global investors," noting that "each edition of the forum has grown in size and relevance, and this fifth edition builds on that trajectory with broader international representation and deeper cross-sector dialogue." "The 2025 agenda focuses on the theme 'The Road to 2030: Transforming the Global Economy,' reflecting Qatar's intention to host not just a regional economic forum, but a global platform that tackles urgent challenges — from energy transition and trade disruptions to investment in emerging technologies, sports, and entertainment," he noted.

Sheikh Abdulla said, "Taking place just five years away from Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), with other national development plans across the region also underway, the forum comes at a time when global conflict and division are on the rise. In this context, the act of coming together to talk, to listen, and to engage meaningfully is more consequential than ever."

"Since its launch in 2021, the forum has brought together some of the most influential voices across government, business, media, and technology. Its ability to convene such a high-level and diverse group of participants reflects Qatar's growing influence as a trusted venue for international cooperation," he added.

He pointed out that the forum directly supports Qatar's national priorities, further explaining that, "It advances the goals of QNV 2030 by contributing to economic diversification, promoting innovation, and fostering a knowledge-based economy. It also strengthens the country's diplomatic and economic ties across the continents, reinforcing its role as a bridge between regions."

"Beyond its convening power, the forum delivers measurable outcomes. Between 2022 and 2024, it contributed over QR177mn to the national GDP and supported the creation of more than 900 full-time jobs. In 2024 alone, the event reached more than 300mn homes worldwide and generated QR67mn in marketing value. Perhaps most notably, it helped drive an 18% improvement in the global perception of Qatar as a forward-thinking and collaborative international partner," he added.

Sheikh Abdulla also highlighted that, "Over the past two years, the forum has facilitated more than 450 bilateral meetings, creating pathways for partnership, technology transfer, and cross-border collaboration. In 2024 alone, it led to the signing of 20 Memoranda of Understanding, with another 20 already in progress across key sectors for the 2025 edition," further explaining that these outcomes are driving the growth of local enterprises, supporting the scale-up of strategic industries, and strengthening Qatar's position as a place where dialogue translates into real-world impact.

He stressed that the forum seeks to send key messages to the world, the first of which is that "Qatar is not just a venue for global dialogue, but a country willing to take an active role in addressing shared challenges. From energy transition to technological innovation, the forum signals Qatar's readiness to engage with the world on shaping long-term solutions."

"Another key message is about opportunity. The forum reflects Qatar's openness to new partnerships, new markets, and new ideas, especially in fast-growing sectors like media, sports, and technology," he added, pointing out that, "By hosting this dialogue at scale, Qatar is inviting the world to collaborate in building the next chapter of global growth."

Sheikh Abdulla indicated that "The forum serves as a practical tool for advancing Qatar's diversification strategy by aligning global capital, talent, and expertise with the country's transformation goals," pointing out that it also provides Qatar with a platform where it can engage directly in evolving conversations related to digital infrastructure, low-carbon energy, and technology-driven growth.

In regard to Media City Qatar's efforts in keeping pace with digital transformation, he confirmed that Media City Qatar is keeping pace with digital transformation by building the infrastructure, capabilities, and partnerships needed to support the future of media, pointing out that it signed an MoU with Huawei at Web Summit Qatar 2025 to develop a smart media campus. "This includes AI-powered access control, intelligent shared space management, a multi-cloud media platform, and next-generation storage architecture," he continued.

"Artificial intelligence is a central area of development," he said, revealing that Media City Qatar will launch, during the forum, a new activation focused on Arabic content creation using AI, which will go on to show how new technologies can enhance human creativity.

Sheikh Abdulla noted that Media City Qatar also focuses on interactive media and actively advancing Qatar's capabilities in gaming, esports, and immersive storytelling. "Through programs and development workshops with the Doha Film Institute, we are equipping local talent with the tools to build real-time content, design virtual experiences, and explore new storytelling formats," he noted.