Qatar Tourism is positioning itself as a central incubator for homegrown enterprise as part of a strategic drive to elevate the local food and beverage (F&B) sector into a global growth engine, according to Omar Abdulrahman al-Jaber, chief of Operations Affairs at Qatar Tourism.
“We believe Qatar Tourism should serve as the leading platform for incubating innovative ideas and supporting entrepreneurs,” al-Jaber emphasised during a fireside chat during the ‘Taste of Qatar Series II – Spotlight on Qatari Entrepreneurship’ event organised recently by Qatar Tourism.
“Our role is to create the right environment and provide the necessary support, while entrepreneurs must develop their owner ideas, pursue their ambitions, and strive to achieve global impact,” continued.
During the discussion, al-Jaber outlined the strategic priorities guiding Qatar Tourism’s support for local business founders.
He stated that Qatar Tourism’s strategy is built around three core pillars, with a direct focus on achieving excellence in service across the hospitality and dining landscape.
He said, “Qatar Tourism’s strategy is built around three main pillars. One of these is service excellence, which includes delivering exceptional experiences to visitors. As part of this commitment, Qatar Tourism currently supports numerous initiatives across the food and beverage sector.”
Al-Jaber emphasised that dining has evolved from basic commercial provisioning into a holistic visitor experience designed to meet global benchmarks while offering a supportive framework for local founders.
To reinforce these quality standards, public sector entities are expanding structured evaluation and support mechanisms. Al-Jaber highlighted the ‘Taste of Qatar’ initiative, a joint effort with global research firm, Ipsos, and the Ministry of Public Health, which delivers constructive feedback to help establishments address operational weaknesses.
According to al-Jaber, this initiative operates alongside broader tourism platforms, including the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), the Qatar Tourism Awards, and partnerships with international benchmark guides like the Michelin Guide.
He also pointed out that this institutional support is driving a clear structural shift in Qatar’s culinary ecosystem, marked by local brands successfully scaling into international markets rather than simply acquiring foreign franchise rights.
“Previously, we were proud when a Qatari entrepreneur partnered with a global company and established their own brand. Today, we are even prouder to see Qatari brands achieve international recognition and expand by opening branches outside Qatar,” al-Jaber stressed.
Encouraging aspiring founders to take their initial steps, al-Jaber noted that many successful international concepts originated from modest resources within the domestic market.
“My advice to entrepreneurs is to begin with their idea and make it the foundation of their journey. Many successful restaurants and cafés started with a simple concept and very limited resources, yet they have since expanded into global markets and established a presence in cities and countries around the world,” al-Jaber added.