The much anticipated Web Summit Qatar 2026 rolls into action at the sprawling Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) here Sunday.
A surge of global excitement has catapulted it to a complete sell‑out, after news broke that Issam Hijazi, the Palestinian technologist behind the viral social‑media sensation Upscrolled, will open the region’s largest-ever tech gathering.
Within hours of the announcement, ticket sales spiked around the world, pushing attendance beyond 30,000 delegates — turning this year’s edition into a landmark for both the summit and Qatar’s fast‑rising innovation ecosystem.
Organisers confirmed that Web Summit Qatar has shattered every previous record, drawing founders, investors, creators, and policymakers from 124 countries, alongside an army of journalists, content creators, and global tech brands. More than 1,600 startups and 900 investors will crowd the halls of the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) over four packed days, supported by partners such as IBM, Microsoft, Huawei, and Qatar Airways. For officials, the sell‑out moment signals more than just popularity — it reflects Qatar’s transformation into a global nexus for technology and entrepreneurship.
The exhibition floor, which sold out earlier in the year, features participation from major global and regional companies across technology, aviation, finance and telecommunications, underscoring Doha’s growing appeal as a meeting point for capital, talent and ideas.
At the centre of the frenzy is Hijazi, the Palestinian‑Jordanian‑Australian founder of Upscrolled, whose app has become a global sensation for challenging the dominance of Big Tech. Promising a social platform that rejects the algorithmic manipulation, clickbait, and shadow‑banning of traditional networks, Upscrolled last week became the No. 1 free app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, racking up more than one million active users in just days. The sudden fame — intensified by viral debates over censorship and content moderation — has turned Hijazi into an unlikely celebrity for a generation of digital creators craving transparency.
Sunday’s opening marks Hijazi’s first public appearance since the app’s meteoric rise. His speech is among the most anticipated sessions in the summit’s history, with organisers expecting standing‑room‑only crowds and millions more following online. “Issam Hijazi embodies the kind of daring, independent innovation this summit was designed to celebrate,” said an organiser. “His presence has united the tech community’s excitement in a way we’ve rarely seen.”
Alongside Hijazi’s headline moment, the summit’s main stage will feature an all‑star lineup including His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Mohammed al-Thani
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation; Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, Chairperson Qatar Museums; Eduardo Saverin, Yanis Varoufakis, Colin Kaepernick, Larry Li, and creator Abir El‑Saghir, exploring everything from artificial intelligence ethics to digital creativity, startup culture, and social impact.
Last year’s Web Summit Qatar edition generated an estimated QR807mn in economic returns, according to consulting firm Silverlode, with visitor spending driving over 66,000 hotel nights and 19,000 airline bookings. This year’s figures are expected to surge even higher, as the sold‑out summit injects new momentum into Doha’s hospitality, aviation, and investment sectors.
Officials, including Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor al- Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the organising committee, have described the event as “a cornerstone of Qatar’s vision to diversify its economy beyond hydrocarbons” under Qatar National Vision 2030.
