Doha’s venture funding touched a record QR214mn in 2025, an 81% year-on-year jump, reflecting the country’s increasing attractiveness as an investment destination, according to a joint report by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and MAGNiTT.
The growth in funding, which is broadly in line with the expansion observed across the wider Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, elevated Qatar to the fourth most active Mena market by capital deployed, up one position compared with 2024, signalling improved funding momentum relative to regional peers.
The increase reflects both improved capital availability and growing investor confidence in the market, alongside Qatar’s broader efforts to expand its role in the global venture capital landscape, with Invest Qatar and QDB-backed Startup Qatar Programme and the Qatar Investment Authority-backed Fund of Funds as key contributors.
In 2025, Qatar ranked fourth in Mena by deal count and funding, accounting for 5% of total regional deal volume, supported by multiple QDB programmes and ecosystem-building efforts.
Deal flow remained heavily skewed toward the early stages, with pre-seed and seed rounds comprising 93% of total transactions, consistent with the country’s ongoing ecosystem formation phase, the report said, adding ecosystem growth continued to be supported by government-led initiatives and market development programmes, such as Startup Qatar.
Highlighting that the top five industries accounted for 76% of total deal activity in 2025, with fintech the most active amid continued government support; it said fintech retained its position as the most active industry, with 11 deals, up 22% year-on-year (YoY), and accounting for 33% of total deal activity versus 24% in 2024, supported by the Qatar Central Bank.
At the level of funding, transport and logistics emerged as the most funded sector, raising QR80mn, reflecting a 716% YoY increase, driven by a small number of larger transactions, including Snoonu’s series C round. The sector captured 37% of the total funding in the review period.
As the ecosystem continues to grow, a major M&A (merger and acquisition) transaction was concluded in Qatar in 2025, with Saudi Arabia-based Jahez Group acquiring Qatar’s delivery platform Snoonu in July at a valuation of QR1.1bn.
The transaction, backed by QDB and other key institutional and private investors highlights the gradual emergence of acquisition-led exits and underscores the importance of regional buyers in providing liquidity pathways for Qatari startups.
On Qatar funding evolution, the report said Qatar’s VC funding rose from QR79mn in 2021 to a record QR214mn in 2025, rebounding strongly after the 2023 trough. Capital deployed expanded at a 28% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period; even as deals declined 11% YoY in 2025.
“The divergence between funding and deal trends suggests that growth has been driven by larger ticket sizes rather than an expansion in the number of startups funded,” the report said, adding as the ecosystem has evolved, Qatar has been able to target and attract VC investments at later stages with bigger tickets, similar to the Snoonu Series C deal.
In 2025, the five largest deals made up 61% of Qatar’s total funding, compared to 48% the previous year, showing an increasing focus on larger investment rounds.
For the second year in a row, QDB continued to be the largest contributor to the investor base, participating in 11 of the 33 total deals in 2025.
“In 2025, QDB continued to serve as a key catalyst for early-stage venture activity, bringing our cumulative capital invested directly and indirectly to around QR390mn since inception, reflecting our long-term commitment to venture development in the country,” said Abdulrahman Hesham al-Sowaidi, QDB chief executive officer.
