Web Summit Qatar 2026 is translating global conversations into real economic gains, with Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)-backed startup programmes generating hundreds of millions of riyals and positioning Qatar as a regional launchpad for digital innovation, according to an MCIT official.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Eman al-Kuwari, the director of Digital Innovation at the MCIT, said that the 3rd Web Summit Qatar has clearly demonstrated how strategic engagement with the global tech ecosystem can translate into tangible national impact.
“Now we’re seeing the third edition, and we have seen the economic impact that it had on Qatar itself,” she said, pointing to the direct benefits felt across the local startup and innovation ecosystem.
Al-Kuwari said that the MCIT’s role at Web Summit Qatar goes far beyond participation.
The ministry, she said, is using the platform to connect startups with real market opportunities through a structured pipeline that supports companies from the idea stage to global scaling.
“We are participating here with three key programmes that start with incubation, acceleration and scaling,” she said. “All of these paths represent different stages of a startup’s life that need to be supported.”
Web Summit Qatar 2026 is no longer just a meeting ground for global technology leaders; it is delivering measurable economic outcomes for the country and strengthening Qatar’s position in the global digital economy, according to the MCIT.
At the heart of this effort is the Tasmu Accelerator, which targets revenue-generating startups from around the world willing to solve real challenges in Qatar and establish a presence in the region.
According to al-Kuwari, the results speak for themselves.
“Through 130 sales leads, we have generated more than QR430mn in actual revenue for these startups, in terms of real contracts and opportunities,” she said.
In addition, companies supported through MCIT programmes have raised more than QR270mn in funding, underlining investor confidence in Qatar’s innovation ecosystem.
The official noted that these outcomes are possible because Qatar’s ecosystem is deeply interconnected.
“You see the licensing platforms, the banking services, the government engagement and the financing services, all of us are working together under one umbrella to achieve a single goal of diversifying our economy,” al-Kuwari said.
This approach, she added, is central to the Digital Agenda 2030, which the United Nations has recognised as a global best practice for digital transformation.
Beyond startups, al-Kuwari highlighted that Qatar is approaching emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), with a strong focus on trust and responsibility.
“We are among the first countries in the region to have a national AI strategy,” she said, adding that ethical guidelines now underpin every stage of AI development and deployment.
Through initiatives such as GovAI, the MCIT is bringing together government entities and industry leaders to ensure AI solutions are safe, secure and aligned with national priorities.
Al-Kuwari stressed that people remain at the centre of Qatar’s digital transformation, humanising its impact.
“We see that people are at the centre of everything that we’re doing,” she said. “We’re trying to achieve the National Vision 2030 by having a higher quality of life, and digital transformation plays an integral role in that.”
