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The recently held Business Continuity and Resilience Conference (BCRC) 2025 concluded with key recommendations to strengthen organisational resilience in Qatar, under the theme ‘Business Continuity and Resilience – Smart Solutions and Artificial Intelligence’. Key recommendations of the conference included accelerating the integration of smart solutions and AI into continuity plans; emphasising adaptive, data-driven resilience powered by AI; using AI not only to forecast disruptions, such as cyber threats and supply-chain bottlenecks, but to automate crisis response; enhancing public–private collaboration to unify standards and share expertise; establishing specialised training programmes to improve team readiness; and building secure, resilient digital infrastructure to support sustainable transformation. Engineer Abdulatif Ali al-Yafei, BCRC chairman, said: “This conference reflects Qatar’s steadfast commitment to fostering a dynamic business ecosystem, one that does not merely face challenges, but transforms them into drivers of innovation, growth, and competitive advantage. “This year’s theme, ‘Business Continuity and Resilience – Smart Solutions and Artificial Intelligence’, embodies our ambitious vision for the future and presents a pivotal opportunity for collective progress.” The event was attended by Hassan bin Sultan al-Ghanem, Assistant Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with CEOs from both the public and private sectors and senior representatives from various entities, underscoring the importance of strengthening institutional readiness to face challenges through the adoption of advanced technological solutions and artificial intelligence (AI). The conference also focused on the transformative role of AI and smart solutions in reshaping resilience strategies. These technologies have become essential tools for risk forecasting, crisis response, and accelerating disaster recovery, enabling Qatari organisations not only to withstand challenges but also to convert them into opportunities for growth and innovation. Al-Yafei said: “We stand at a defining moment in which AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics are revolutionising how institutions handle risks. These technologies empower organisations to move from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience, embracing change as a fundamental opportunity for advancement.” According to al-Yafei, the conference highlighted the critical role of risk management, business continuity, resilience, and crisis management in an era shaped by technological transformation. “We explored how AI and tools ranging from predictive analytics to automated crisis responses are redefining readiness. Modern resilience is no longer reactive: it is intelligent, cognitive, adaptive, and analytics-driven. The event demonstrated how these powerful technologies equip companies to anticipate disruptions, such as cyber threats or supply chain issues, and automate crisis response to ensure faster recovery and a robust, monitored infrastructure,” al-Yafei emphasised. He added: “Through this conference, the BCR Qatar network gathered industry leaders and experts in support of Qatar National Vision 2030. Our mission is to stimulate innovation, promote sustainable growth, and strengthen Qatar’s global position as a resilient, future-ready economy. Together, we explore how to transform challenges into opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and strategic advantage — turning resilience into a critical strategic asset that drives our success.” 

The recently held Business Continuity and Resilience Conference (BCRC) 2025 concluded with key recommendations to strengthen organisational resilience in Qatar, under the theme ‘Business Continuity and Resilience – Smart Solutions and Artificial Intelligence’.Key recommendations of the conference included accelerating the integration of smart solutions and AI into continuity plans; emphasising adaptive, data-driven resilience powered by AI; using AI not only to forecast disruptions, such as cyber threats and supply-chain bottlenecks, but to automate crisis response; enhancing public–private collaboration to unify standards and share expertise; establishing specialised training programmes to improve team readiness; and building secure, resilient digital infrastructure to support sustainable transformation.Engineer Abdulatif Ali al-Yafei, BCRC chairman, sad: “This conference reflects Qatar’s steadfast commitment to fostering a dynamic business ecosystem, one that does not merely face challenges, but transforms them into drivers of innovation, growth, and competitive advantage.“This year’s theme, ‘Business Continuity and Resilience – Smart Solutions and Artificial Intelligence’, embodies our ambitious vision for the future and presents a pivotal opportunity for collective progress.”The event was attended by Hassan bin Sultan al-Ghanem, Assistant Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with CEOs from both the public and private sectors and senior representatives from various entities, underscoring the importance of strengthening institutional readiness to face challenges through the adoption of advanced technological solutions and artificial intelligence (AI).The conference also focused on the transformative role of AI and smart solutions in reshaping resilience strategies. These technologies have become essential tools for risk forecasting, crisis response, and accelerating disaster recovery, enabling Qatari organisations not only to withstand challenges but also to convert them into opportunities for growth and innovation.Al-Yafei said: “We stand at a defining moment in which AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics are revolutionising how institutions handle risks. These technologies empower organisations to move from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience, embracing change as a fundamental opportunity for advancement.”According to al-Yafei, the conference highlighted the critical role of risk management, business continuity, resilience, and crisis management in an era shaped by technological transformation.“We explored how AI and tools ranging from predictive analytics to automated crisis responses are redefining readiness. Modern resilience is no longer reactive: it is intelligent, cognitive, adaptive, and analytics-driven. The event demonstrated how these powerful technologies equip companies to anticipate disruptions, such as cyber threats or supply chain issues, and automate crisis response to ensure faster recovery and a robust, monitored infrastructure,” al-Yafei emphasised.He added: “Through this conference, the BCR Qatar network gathered industry leaders and experts in support of Qatar National Vision 2030. Our mission is to stimulate innovation, promote sustainable growth, and strengthen Qatar’s global position as a resilient, future-ready economy. Together, we explore how to transform challenges into opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and strategic advantage—turning resilience into a critical strategic asset that drives our success.”The conference was highlighted by the National Excellence Awards 2025, which recognised outstanding institutions and individuals contributing to resilience across Qatar. 

The governor of Misamis Occidental province in the Philippines has underscored the importance of reciprocal business missions between Qatar and Northern Mindanao, describing delegation exchanges as a key pathway to explore investment opportunities in various sectors.Governor Henry S Oaminal emphasised to Gulf Times that tourism, agriculture, transportation, and food security are among the investment areas that could be explored either through business-to-business (B2B) or government-to-government (G2G) strategies.According to Oaminal, tourism promotion is being positioned alongside trade and agriculture to strengthen ties with Doha. “It can go hand in hand; the trade relationship can be posted to enhance one’s economy, particularly in Mindanao, specifically in my home province, Misamis Occidental,” the governor explained.He further said, “We are a developing province, having the potential for trade investment and agriculture. Then there is tourism, which is being highlighted by the government. We are currently developing our mountains and coastal areas, so we can organise an inbound mission from Qatar to Mindanao, and eventually, vice versa from our region to promote trade and tourism relations.”Oaminal highlighted Misamis Occidental’s natural attractions as part of the pitch to Qatari investors. He also confirmed that investment opportunities are being opened for Qatar in multiple sectors, including transportation, food security, and dairy farms.The governor said discussions with Qatari travel operators were held during the recently concluded Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2025, with plans to invite them to Mindanao for a travel operators convention.“Conversely, we will also be organising an outbound mission comprising a delegation from Misamis Occidental to explore Qatar and the many possibilities where we can establish good business relationships, not only in trade but in all aspects,” Oaminal explained.Asked for a timeline for these plans, Oaminal projected that the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental would send an outbound mission to Doha “by the first quarter of 2026.”Aside from visiting QTM 2025, Oaminal was in Qatar as part of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) business delegation, which held high-level meetings with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), tourism officials, and Qatar Chamber, among others.The PCCI delegation was led by its president, Enunina V Mangio, discussed co-operation relations and networking with Qatar Chamber. The Philippine delegation comprised 40 people representing about 30 companies across sectors such as labour, real estate, monorails, construction, and water technology, Mangio told this paper on the sidelines of QTM 2025. 

On the sidelines of MWC Doha 2025, Huawei Cloud reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Qatar’s national digital transformation and economic diversification goals.Alan Qi, President of Huawei Cloud Middle East and Central Asia, spoke with Gulf Times about how the company is working with local partners to strengthen digital resilience, empower SMEs, and accelerate AI adoption. In this exclusive interview, Qi outlines Huawei Cloud’s role in advancing Qatar National Vision 2030, the strategic importance of its collaboration with MEEZA, and the company’s priorities in building sovereign, secure, and future ready digital infrastructure. How is Huawei Cloud working with Qatar to support its economic development initiatives and national vision? Alan Qi: As you know, Huawei is one of the world's leading cloud service providers. We’ve been empowering digital transformation in the Middle East for more than 20 years, including Qatar. So, we are dedicated to this market.Globally, we are now serving more than 900 cloud customers and more than 400 local partners. And we are also providing industry-tailored solutions. What we want to do is to bring our cloud technologies to Qatar not only for the government, but also for the oil and gas, banking sectors, and SMEs. We provide technologies for both public cloud services and our on-premises cloud solution, known as Huawei Cloud Stack. Some customers need local data protection and they care about data sovereignty, and for this we provide secure and scalable solutions on-premises. Meanwhile, our public cloud service is ideal for customers seeking managed cloud services.We are also developing our partner ecosystem and our talent ecosystem in Qatar, amplifying our long-term commitment to Qatar’s Vision 2030, especially in the digital and AI era. Elaborate further on the economic impact, and the social and government impact of this initiative? Alan Qi: Our economic impact initiatives focus on diversification and empowering local start-ups and SMEs. We achieve this by providing affordable, innovative cloud services, thereby lowering barriers to new service creation. This is possible by leveraging China's extensive industry experience, strong R&D capabilities, and latest ICT and cloud innovations.For example, our database and IoT services, data analytics, and transformational AI services will all be introduced to Qatar. This will accelerate government and enterprise level digital and AI transformation, while simultaneously creating job opportunities and diversifying local AI services and applications. You also mentioned a few GCC countries earlier in your statement. Can you again elaborate further on the social and governance impact of this initiative? Alan Qi: We operate across the GCC the Levant as well as Iraq and Pakistan. Our cloud empowers governments to build a wide array of smart services, including digital human, legal AI services, chatbots, government cloud, and AI cloudCloud technology is the foundation of all smart cities. Our cloud platform powers AI services at Neom in Saudi Arabia, while in the UAE, we’re partnering with the Dubai Municipality to fast-track their digital services. In Qatar, we work closely with MEEZA to provide digital services for government and enterprises, while introducing new technologies driving meaningful impact and positive change.We offer a range of AI capabilities, including leading models like DeepSeek, Huawei Pangu, and various other open-source large language models. Our goal is to introduce these technologies to society, creating significant social and governmental impact by optimising daily operations and business processes. The Huawei Cloud provides AI-native infrastructure and services to Qatar. Elaborate further on that and on the technology impact? Alan Qi: When we talk about cloud, it's not only about traditional AI services such as computing storage and network infrastructure. We also provide AI-native infrastructure, an end-to-end solution covering AI computing power, AI production lines, model management platforms, and service-level tools like our Versatile AI agent platform, to help customers build their own AI services.We are also introducing partners, like Neuxnet, and other Chinese partners who can build AI applications and use cases for any industry. This approach is more practical because AI's true value lies beyond mere buzzwords or GPU-as-a-service. Ultimately, AI must deliver tangible services and specific use cases tailored to any industry and business. How is Huawei Cloud helping Qatar build a resilient, sovereign and secure digital transformation? Alan Qi: We build cloud services on-premises because I believe, especially nowadays, that data sovereignty security is the highest priority for Qatar. Robust, secure, and scalable on-premises cloud stacks are critical. We observe significant demand for these, particularly from government entities and for highly secure services.We provide on-premises Huawei Cloud Stack with full service capabilities. All services available on our public cloud, including our leading and most innovative offerings, are also provided on-premises. These are fully managed and operated locally, in line with Qatar’s secure and sovereign vision.We ensure seamless integration and synergy between our on-premises offerings and public cloud. This technical alignment enables us to quickly bring new public cloud services to on-premises platforms. Can you provide a technology perspective? Alan Qi: At Huawei Cloud, we define our cloud services in three layers. The first layer is Infrastructure as a Service, the second layer is the Technology as a Service, and the top layer is the Expertise as a Service.Infrastructure as a Service provides the general computing power, the AI computing service, storage network and security, along with the CDN (Content Delivery Network) service.Technology as a Service is our database as a service layer with four categories for three production lines. The first is the data, which we call DataArts, our platform that provides comprehensive data governance and management. It offers database, big data, and data analytics services, enabling users to perform data analysis, modelling, and development. The second is ModelArts and versatile, our AI studio. This suite provides comprehensive AI computing resources management, model training, refining, development, deployment and management, AI service production, and AI agent production capabilities. The third is CodeArts, our one-stop software development pipeline based on Huawei’s many years of R&D best practice. We also have a security pillar, SecMaster, which provides one-stop automated security operations to safeguard cloud resources so that users can proactively prevent and respond quickly to threats. What makes the Huawei–MEEZA collaboration strategically important for Qatar? Alan Qi: MEEZA is a well-known and reputable company in Qatar, distinguished by its robust local infrastructure and strong partnerships with telecom operators, government, and enterprises.Our cooperation with MEEZA deepens our long-term commitment to drive Qatar's digital leadership and economic diversification. For Huawei Cloud and also for Huawei, in general, we’re unifying MEEZA’s local presence, the brand, and local support with our latest technology, manifested by the creation of a cloud we’ve built together. We provide the latest technologies and capabilities on this cloud to ensure that Huawei’s latest cloud’s services are available in Qatar. Together with MEEZA as our partner, we’re ensuring these services are deeply tailored, and offering the best support to the local market. We have an initiative that is anchored on four key pillars. The first is 'Private Sector Leadership', empowering the private sector to spearhead national digital development, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Second, we prioritise 'Sovereignty and Security', ensuring that digital transformation is robustly secured and national sovereignty is fully safeguarded. Third, we focus on 'Accelerating Cloud and AI Capabilities', driven by our commitment to bring the latest technologies to Qatar, avoiding legacy systems and reflecting the nation's advanced innovation.Finally, we emphasise 'Building Local Talent' through partnerships with universities and QDA-MCIT, and the 'Future Leader Programme'. This initiative annually provides internships to top university students, especially local Qataris, many of whom successfully transition into roles at Huawei. How can enterprises in Qatar implement AI more efficiently? What role does Huawei Cloud play? Alan Qi: Well, AI is the hottest topic. Today, when we talk to any customer, any partner, they will always start with AI. Nobody will ignore that. But in the epic global AI innovation race, there are two ecosystems pioneering AI development – the US and China. I want to give you one reference. The top 20 open-source large language models listed on Hugging Face comprise 17 from China, two from the US, and one from Europe. This shows that China is really evolving fast. It is moving so fast not only in AI technologies, AI computing power, AI infrastructure, and AI data centre with liquid cooling solutions, but also in supporting a supercomputing pool. On the model layer, DeepSeek and Huawei Pangu models are leading the charge in Chinese open source models, as well as AI use cases. So, how can enterprises in Qatar implement AI more efficiently? I think there are four important factors: data, computing power, models, and service application. If you want to build an AI service and implement AI more efficiently, I think we should first learn from industry best practice. There are many innovations and practical use cases in China, the US, and Europe. It is also important to integrate some out-of-the-box solutions and ideas aligned with business needs, so they have a concept, and can design what their targeted services are and what their targeted AI-enabled business process is. Second, businesses need a data partner, as high-quality, clean data is the indispensable foundation of AI. Without it, intelligent services are unachievable. Huawei and its partners offer comprehensive assistance with data connection, cleaning, and labelling. Third, when choosing models, explore the many open-source options. Crucially, always select the latest version that precisely aligns with specific business needs. And also, government entities, and large enterprises want to have a commercialised model, this is where Huawei can support, as well as with our Pangu models, supporting not only the large language model but also for the computer vision model and multi-modality models. Last but not least, is AI computing power. Since Huawei has invested significantly in AI infrastructure and AI computing power, customers can seamlessly to access and acquire AI computing power through Huawei Cloud. In the future, we will have on-premises solutions as well. Huawei has been working in Qatar for more than 20 years. We would like to be the trusted advisor and the AI consultant for our customers to help them build and implement their AI services to start this AI journey with our strong local support. In the Middle East and Central Asia region, Huawei has a presence in 21 countries. We have thousands of employees in the Middle East and Central Asia and more than 4,000 partners. We are not a small company, we can really help from all aspects and we are here for the long term. Especially today in Qatar, you can see that Huawei has shown its big presence here. This is also our commitment to this market.

A top official of the GSMA has lauded Qatar’s proactive investments to push forward its digitalisation journey, underscoring the country’s role as a global leader in shaping the future of connectivity.In an exclusive interview with Gulf Times on the sidelines of MWC25 Doha, Louis Powell, Director of AI Technologies at the GSMA, said Qatar ranks among the world’s top 10 investors in the digital economy and has set clear national goals through its Digital Agenda 2030.“I understand that Qatar is in the top 10 investors in the digital economy and ecosystem. The government is very proactive on the AI side of things, and I think it’s a great opportunity for them to uplift and empower their citizens and enterprises. Establishing a clear goal and ambition through its 2030 national vision not only sends a positive signal to the economy but also sets a guiding example for other nations,” Powell pointed out.According to Powell, the connectivity industry is expected to generate “$470bn in value between now and 2030.” He said MWC25 Doha attracted about 300 thought leaders, 250 exhibitors, and 100 startups, adding that “a lot of that value is created in these two days from these players in this space.”He said MWC25 Doha brings together a “core group of investors,” making the event a vital platform for showcasing breakthroughs in mobile technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and next-generation connectivity.Powell revealed what he was most excited about the developments in AI, citing the announcement of a strategic co-operation agreement between the GSMA Foundry, the GSMA’s innovation hub, and the Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the UAE.“We’re working with Khalifa University on building assets that boost the telecoms industry in AI,” Powell explained, adding that the university has a strong history in telecoms and recently built the first model designed specifically for the industry“And along with them, we have done a lot of work on benchmarking how models perform in the telecoms industry,” stressed Powell, who noted that telecoms data has unique requirements compared to consumer applications.“You can’t just take ChatGPT and use it on telecom-specific data. To address this, the GSMA is working with vendors in the open-source ecosystem and academia to boost model performance,” he further said.Asked about other key announcements or initiatives the GSMA unveiled at MWC25 Doha, and how they will shape the direction of the industry in the coming years, Powell said: “We've also launched a competition encouraging the industry to innovate in the telecom space, focusing on telecom-specific challenges such as troubleshooting. We also have great announcements on our open gateway through new announcements on network APIs.”Looking ahead, Powell said 6G will be “AI native,” with intelligence embedded into how networks are designed, constructed, and operated. “In the future, we’ll see how agentic systems really give you unlocked potential in scale and efficiency,” he pointed out. 

Key officials from the Philippines’ public and private sectors expressed collective optimism about robust investment collaboration with Qatar in tourism, agriculture, transportation, and trade.Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2025, Department of Tourism (DoT) Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar underscored the country’s unified presence in the event’s fourth edition, which will run until November 24 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).“Our participation in the event reflects the Department of Tourism’s keenness to not only promote the Philippines as a tourism destination but also to include halal tourism and Muslim-friendly tourism as our offering to the people of Qatar,” Valderrosa-Abubakar pointed out.**media[385855]**She added that the DoT’s participation, in partnership with the Embassy of the Philippines in the State of Qatar, was part of a broader effort to highlight the country’s readiness to welcome Muslim travellers and showcase its diverse tourism portfolio.From the provincial front, Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S Oaminal emphasised the natural attractions of Northern Mindanao as a key draw for international visitors. He said: “We have development initiatives on both our mountain and coastal areas; we have a beach resort that is multi-inspired because it has an ocean villa presentation and dolphin islands nearby.”He explained that tourism promotion was being positioned alongside trade and agriculture to strengthen ties with Qatar, noting that inbound missions from Doha to Mindanao could be complemented by outbound delegations from the province of Misamis Occidental.Meanwhile, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Enunina V Mangio highlighted the chamber’s direct engagement with Qatari counterparts.**media[385856]**“That’s why we’re bringing a group of individuals who are all engaged in different sectors, and we will try to match them with their counterparts in Qatar,” Mangio explained, adding that the PCCI is keen on sharing best practices, technology transfer, partnerships, and investment exchange.Today (November 25), the PCCI is meeting officials of Qatar Chamber to discuss co-operation relations and networking. The Philippine delegation comprises 40 people representing about 30 companies across sectors such as labour, real estate, monorails, construction, and water technology, Mangio noted.Aside from Qatar Chamber, Mangio said the PCCI delegation is expected to hold meetings with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Investment Authority, and tourism authorities.Mangio emphasised that the Philippines is ready to deepen its partnership with Qatar, leveraging tourism as a gateway to trade and investment, while ensuring that the PCCI will highlight the key role that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and regional provinces play in strengthening Qatar-Philippines investment ties.

ReporterGovernment entities in Qatar have made significant progress in adopting smarter, evidence-based decision-making since the establishment of the Tasmu Innovation Lab in February 2020, an official at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has said. Eman al-Kuwari, Director of Digital Innovation at the MCIT, stated that the lab provides a controlled environment where public institutions can test emerging technologies before committing to full-scale projects. “Since its inception, we wanted to create a platform for government entities in the country to explore and experiment with emerging technologies for the different challenges that we’re facing,” al-Kuwari said during the Ibtechar Majlis held previously in Doha. According to al-Kuwari, the idea was to provide a secure space where they could validate concepts, collaborate with startups, and assess how these technologies could be integrated into their environments. Al-Kuwari explained that not every challenge is suited to technological solutions, citing instances where some tasks are redirected to other entities when policy gaps need to be addressed before technology can be applied. She also stressed the importance of precision in public sector innovation, emphasising that “there is no room for us to fail.” Al-Kuwari pointed out: “When we implement a big project, we need to implement it well. That’s why the innovation lab exists – to test, experiment, and validate before going full scale.” She noted that sandbox testing often reveals regulatory blind spots, citing use cases outside of Qatar. “We’ve seen this in Estonia, Singapore, and the UK. When you test emerging technologies, you often uncover regulatory gaps. This gives us early detection and a chance to improve before a major rollout,” she stressed. According to al-Kuwari, the MCIT’s sandbox model is helping Qatar build a more agile, data-driven public sector by collaborating with startups and drawing advisory expertise. She added: “It’s a good way to introduce government entities to the ecosystem. And most importantly, it helps them validate their ideas in a controlled, secure environment.” Tasmu is Qatar’s national Smart Qatar programme, launched by MCIT to drive digital transformation across priority sectors, such as transport, health, environment, logistics, and sports, stated the Tasmu Innovation Lab website. The website explained that the lab provides an open and inclusive environment for government entities, researchers, and technology partners to access, explore, and co-create solutions. It focuses on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR). The lab serves as a bridge between the government and the innovation ecosystem, ensuring that challenges identified by ministries are addressed through collaborative problem-solving. It also supports proof-of-concept testing and early validation, helping detect regulatory gaps before national roll-outs, the website further stated.

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announced a major expansion of its support for entrepreneurs at the 11th edition of the Rowad Entrepreneurship Conference, unveiling new investment packages designed to attract global startups to Doha.Speaking at the conference’s opening ceremony, QDB CEO Abdulrahman bin Hesham al-Sowaidi said: “I am pleased to announce the doubling of investment packages: up to QR4mn for seed stage companies and up to QR20mn for growth stage companies. This programme serves as a bridge for outstanding startups worldwide to establish in Qatar and expand globally.”Al-Sowaidi emphasised that entrepreneurship in Qatar has evolved into a national endeavour, supported by the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). He noted that the private sector’s role in venture capital “is expanding rapidly.”“Last year, private sector participation reached 57% of total venture capital investments. We continue our journey towards achieving the national target of 70% by 2030,” he explained.QDB’s investment arm now ranks fourth among the most active investors in the Middle East and North Africa, with direct and indirect investments exceeding “QR350mn.” The bank has also tripled the value of single co-investment deals to “QR11mn,” strengthening partnerships with local and international funds.Al-Sowaidi highlighted QDB’s partnerships with the Qatar Investment Authority’s (QIA) Fund of Funds programme, including the launch of the HealthTech Accelerator with Deerfield’s Cure programme, which connects Doha and New York. He also pointed to the creation of Qatar’s first venture building studio, The studio, in collaboration with Utopia Capital Management.Capacity building initiatives have also been central to QDB’s strategy. More than 220 angel investors have been accredited through a programme with the Qatar Finance and Business Academy, paving the way for deeper engagement in venture capital across the region.“Aligned with Qatar’s ambition to be a launchpad rather than just a destination, we introduced the Startup Qatar Investment Programme. In just two years, it has supported more than 35 companies with investments exceeding QR130mn,” al-Sowaidi said.Al-Sowaidi stressed that digitalisation is now essential for competitiveness. QDB has rolled out a Digital Transformation programme, introduced the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) for self-assessment, and provided grants and financing to support companies in adopting advanced technologies.He cited figures from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) showing that 81% of early-stage entrepreneurs in Qatar rely on modern technology, evidence of the ecosystem’s ability to keep pace with global trends. QDB has also launched the Talent Community Programme, benefitting more than 50 entrepreneurs across 30 local and international companies, al-Sowaidi pointed out.He said this year’s Rowad conference gathered more than 120 local and international companies, 15 panel discussions, 45 workshops, and 28 startups competing to showcase their projects.“We stand at a moment where entrepreneurship moves from the margins to the centre of the economic system. The private sector is playing an increasingly vital role in driving development,” emphasised al-Sowaidi, who urged entrepreneurs and investors to seize the opportunity for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and deep partnerships.

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) kicked off Monday the 11th edition of the ‘Rowad Entrepreneurship Conference’, which will run until November 19 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).Organised in collaboration with the Young Entrepreneurs Club, the three-day event will also host the second ‘Young Entrepreneurs Media Forum’, featuring participation from government and private organisations, media professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs.His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal al-Thani led the opening ceremony of the conference, which carries the theme ‘Beyond Boundaries: Scaling, Sustaining, and Succeeding’.The event is held under the patronage of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani.QDB CEO Abdulrahman bin Hesham al-Sowaidi said, “Today’s opening clearly demonstrates Rowad’s pivotal role in supporting entrepreneurship and fostering innovation and creative thinking at the national and regional levels.“The direct connections we've seen between companies and investors, and the knowledge sharing among experts and entrepreneurs, showcase this platform’s unique ability to forge new pathways for collaboration across Qatar's business ecosystem.”He added: “Rowad’s core mission is to create an environment where companies can access the knowledge, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive. We want every innovator to gain valuable insights into market dynamics, enabling them to plan strategically and grow with confidence.”According to QDB, this year’s theme charts a strategic course for entrepreneurship, emphasising excellence in business model development, market expansion, and leveraging sustainability and innovation as competitive differentiators that attract investment.The 2025 edition offers a rich and diverse programme, including a startup exhibition that features innovative solutions from 120 local and international companies. The conference hosts over 100 speakers and experts, more than 30 specialised workshops, and 15 panel discussions organised across four thematic tracks.The sessions tackle critical topics for Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: strategies for scaling operations and entering new markets, leveraging global demand to refine products and services, prioritising sustainability, and embracing innovative solutions.An interactive pitch platform allows entrepreneurs to present their ventures to investors and explore funding opportunities, while dedicated meetings between startups and investors facilitate partnership building and investment discussions.The conference enjoys strong institutional support, with strategic partners including the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, alongside strategic sponsor QNB Group.The 11th edition of Rowad builds on the conference’s established track record, strengthening Doha’s position as a dynamic innovation hub and premier entrepreneurship destination. Rowad is held as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).

The successful trial of Qatar’s inaugural urban flight featuring an unmanned electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft marked a major milestone in the nation’s commitment to embracing innovative and sustainable mobility solutions. The event, sponsored and witnessed by His Excellency the Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed al-Thani Saturday at the Katara amphitheatre, symbolises Qatar’s forward-thinking approach in leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance transportation systems, ultimately reinforcing its status as a leader in smart urban mobility initiatives. The air taxi demonstration flight comes within a series of tests, supervised by the Ministry of Transport (MoT), on the technical aspects and future applicability of such technologies. **media[382233]** The trial air taxi flight took off at the Old Doha Port and landed safely at the Katara Cultural Village. It was successfully conducted without any direct human interference using a full self-control system enabled by AI and advanced air navigation technologies, demonstrating that the system is capable of using the airspace optimally in a safe operational environment. According to the MoT, it will continue assessing the test results and lay down the regulatory and technical frameworks needed for approving and operating that type of mobility in line with best international standards and in a way that enhances Qatar’s position as a leading global hub in adopting smart and sustainable technologies. The pilotless air taxi project will be carried out in several consecutive phases, considering all relevant technical, operational, and regulatory requirements, including infrastructure readiness, approval of operational systems, and meeting all safety, security and quality standards to ensure the new mobility system can be safely and effectively integrated into the nation’s mobility network. **media[382235]** The minister described the trial operation as “a new milestone” in Qatar’s journey of adopting smart and sustainable mobility solutions and constitutes “an advanced step forward” toward a future enabled by innovation and environmentally friendly technologies. “This emphasises the MoT’s commitment to enhancing Qatar’s regional and international pioneering position in modern transportation and supporting national efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life,” the minister emphasised. “This initiative,” he said, “is a true translation of the MoT Strategy 2025-2030 that aims at creating a smart, resilient transportation system where sustainability, innovation, and integration between various transportation modes are front and centre, thereby boosting the efficiency of the country’s transportation system and advancing the goals of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.” **media[382236]** The minister noted that the MoT will continue enhancing Qatar’s global profile in deploying smart and emerging technologies in transportation, in partnership with leading global companies, to develop an integrated infrastructure that is capable of accommodating advanced transportation modes in the coming years. “Saturay’s trial operation was part of the MoT’s initiatives for developing Qatar’s public transportation system by using unmanned eVTOL aircraft as a safe, fast, and eco-friendly urban mobility option that contributes to reducing traffic congestion, and providing smart mobility choices for citizens, residents and visitors, something that says leadership is achieved when technology meets governance,” the minister added.

Senior government officials, academics, and innovation leaders have explored how Public Innovation Labs (PILs) can help governments improve service delivery, foster citizen engagement, and build agile institutions.Eman al-Kuwari, director of Digital Innovation at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), underscored how MCIT is reimagining the role of government in the digital age, citing the TASMU Innovation Lab.“Technology is the means, not the end; we created the Innovation Lab to offer a safe environment for experimentation. It’s a space where we can test emerging technologies, validate ideas, and include the wider ecosystem.“That includes startups, academia, and private sector partners. We’re reimagining how government works — and that starts with giving teams the confidence to try,” al-Kuwari pointed out during the inaugural ‘Ibtechar Majlis’, a new dialogue series launched earlier by Qatari innovation firm Ibtechar.She added that innovation must be embedded in the culture of public institutions: “It’s not just about infrastructure or policy — it’s about building a mindset. We want government teams to be able to experiment, to test, and to learn. That’s how we bring real value to public services.”Nejoud M al-Jehani, executive director of Strategy & Programmes at the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, offered a strategic framing of innovation, distinguishing between internal reform and ecosystem-wide transformation.“We differentiate between government innovation and public innovation. Government innovation is about improving internal processes — policies, service delivery, operations. Public innovation is broader. It’s about creating value for society by mobilising the entire ecosystem: government entities, corporates, startups, and universities,” al-Jehani explained.Emphasising the dual role of government in this landscape, she continued: “As an adopter, government defines challenges and becomes the first customer. That builds market confidence. As an enabler, it sets standards, opens partnerships, and creates the conditions for innovation to thrive across sectors.”Hissa al-Tamimi, director of Governmental Innovation at the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB), spoke about the launch of Qatar’s first government accelerator and its role in bridging national priorities with operational realities.She said, “We’re rethinking how services are designed and how operations are managed. The accelerator helps us connect national projects with the day-to-day work of government entities.”Al-Tamimi also addressed the cultural challenge of embedding innovation in public institutions, saying, “If innovation were just about systems, adaptation would be easy. But when you’re dealing with people, that’s where the challenge lies. Innovation pushes us beyond our comfort zones. It’s not a privilege — it’s a way of living. That’s the only way we can advance.”Dr Georgios Dimitropoulos, professor and associate dean for Research at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Law, highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and government: “Academia brings ideas and evidence. The government brings implementability. The two sides need each other.”Citing historical examples to illustrate the power of this partnership, Dimitropoulos said: “Think of the Manhattan Project, the COVID vaccines, and the Internet. These were all born from collaboration between government and academia. Qatar’s AI strategy is a local example. It was developed with HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute, and it positioned the country as an early adopter.”Ibtechar co-founder and CEO Nayef al-Ibrahim, who moderated the discussion, framed the Majlis as a culturally rooted space for dialogue and co-creation, adding that it is “an integral part of Qatari culture.”“Public Innovation Labs continue that spirit. They offer governments safe spaces to test ideas, co-create with citizens, and deliver agile services. In a small state, a model that combines centralised coordination with decentralised experimentation brings significant value. It allows for flexibility, inclusion, and scale—all while maintaining coherence,” he added.

The president of the Business Continuity & Resilience Conference has called on organisations in Qatar to embrace intelligent, forward-thinking, and flexible strategies that enable them to turn disruptions into opportunities to innovate and stay ahead.Engineer Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei emphasised that companies that anticipate challenges and adapt to market changes can navigate uncertainty and discover unique solutions that give them a competitive edge.“Companies can not only navigate through uncertainties but also identify novel solutions and approaches that set them apart from their competitors,” said al-Yafei on the sidelines of a recently held press conference to announce the upcoming ‘4th Business Continuity & Resilience Conference’ slated for November 27 at the Al Majles Hall of the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.Al-Yafei stressed that this involves staying attuned to emerging trends, fostering a culture of creativity and adaptability within teams, and continually refining processes and offerings. “In doing so, organisations can transform potential setbacks into catalysts for growth and success,” he further pointed out.He underscored the success of the previous three conferences, saying this year’s edition will be held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani under the theme ‘Business Continuity – Smart Solutions and AI’. The event will be organised in a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), he also said.“We stand at a pivotal moment where artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and predictive analytics are fundamentally transforming how organisations approach risk.“These technologies empower businesses to move beyond reactive crisis management to proactive resilience. This is the new frontier of organisational resilience that we will explore together,” al-Yafei noted, adding that the conference will convene leading national and international experts in business continuity, organisational resilience and risk management in Qatar.He said 24 consultants, experts, and practitioners will be invited to participate in the panel discussion, all of whom have experience managing major crises and disruptions in large operations, transportation, cybersecurity, supply chains, and food security, among other areas.The panel discussions will address a variety of topics related to risk mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The programme also includes six informative talks and interactive sessions.According to al-Yafei, the MoCI has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Qatar’s business environment and strengthening the role of private sector institutions, underscoring the importance of fostering a dynamic and competitive business sector that contributes effectively to achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.In a media statement, the ministry highlighted that the adoption of smart solutions and AI technologies has become a cornerstone of modern business development. These tools enhance institutional efficiency, improve decision-making, and align with the country’s digital transformation agenda, ultimately reinforcing the competitiveness of Qatar’s economy, it also stated.MoCI further noted that the ‘4th Business Continuity and Resilience Conference’ provides a valuable platform for sharing expertise and showcasing best practices in organisational resilience and business continuity.“The Ministry affirms its continued support for initiatives that promote a more agile, sustainable, and future-ready business environment capable of adapting to regional and global developments,” the statement added.

The fourth edition of the ‘Business Continuity & Resilience Conference’ (BCRC), slated for November 27 in Doha, is expected to will highlight the crucial role of risk management, business continuity, resilience, and crisis management in an era where the widespread adoption of smart solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and predictive analytics is fundamentally transforming how organisations approach risk.Speaking at a press conference yesterday, BCRC president Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei announced the details of the conference in the presence of Hassan al-Emadi, Senior Director Business Accounts at Ooredoo Qatar; Nayaz Mohammed, Cyber and Digital Trust Partner at PwC; and Sarah Abdulla, general manager of the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA).“AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics are redefining how organisations manage risk and crises. These technologies empower companies to move beyond simply responding to crises and build proactive resilience. This is the new frontier of organisational resilience that we will explore together.“Traditional business continuity management, resilience, and risk management, often reactive in nature, are no longer sufficient to meet these challenges. Instead, organisations must adopt smart, proactive, and adaptive strategies to leverage disruptions as opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage,” al-Yafei pointed out.He further explained, “AI and smart solutions are revolutionising risk management and operational resilience by enabling predictive risk intelligence that forecasts disruptions like cyber threats and supply chain issues for proactive mitigation, automated crisis response systems that enhance real-time decision-making while minimising downtime and errors, resilient Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-monitored infrastructure that ensures continuity across critical sectors, and advanced machine learning cybersecurity that rapidly detects and neutralises threats.”AI is rapidly taking over critical business functions, al-Yafei pointed out, saying “the game is becoming serious; this is no longer experimental.” He also highlighted that numerous organisations are making substantial investments in smart solutions and AI, leading to a growing dependence on these technologies for critical functions and operations across all sectors.“But what if the AI fails? This conference will aim to address hard questions and share practical approaches, and show ways to safeguard our business.Some of these questions are how do you continue AI operations in the face of a cyberattack, and how do you deal with AI actors or business partners or customers that suddenly malfunction? These and more questions will be discussed during the conference,” al-Yafei stressed.

Medical tourism, corporate diplomacy seen as emerging investment channels Medical tourism and corporate business diplomacy are emerging key investment channels between Qatar and Uganda, an official of a Qatari firm has said. KON co-founder and chairman Mohamed R Massani told Gulf Times that a delegation of investors from Uganda lauded the medical treatment they experienced while in Qatar. “We already received a few delegations...and they had received very good treatment,” explained Massani, who added that medical tourism was introduced after Ugandan delegations visiting Doha received treatment at partner clinics. He noted that Qatar’s healthcare infrastructure “is among the best in the region.” Massani stressed that medical tourism aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify away from hydrocarbons. “Qatar has been successful in its diversification strategy by tapping into non-energy sources of income, and one of these sectors is medical tourism. As part of these efforts, we are promoting medical tourism, in collaboration with DOC Medical Centre and the American Hospital Clinic,” he further explained. Beyond healthcare, Massani highlighted the role of corporate business diplomacy, a model where private firms partner with embassies to promote investment and tourism, as well as other sectors, and make the process easy for investors. Previously, KON Group co-founder and chairperson Hissa K al-Sowaidi explained to this paper that the company’s business diplomacy initiative “enhances opportunities to virtually continue our hard work with our strategic partners and boost bilateral business relations.”Al-Suwaidi also stressed that KON Group is keen to participate in the country’s economic development by serving as a bridge between companies in Qatar and their counterparts worldwide. Similarly, Massani stressed that “the collaboration between the company and different embassies in the country would play a role in promoting trade and investments between Qatar and other countries.” Asked about the company’s partner embassies, Massani said KON Group had already established partnerships with “mostly African countries,” citing Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, among others. But he stressed that the company will be expanding these partnerships to other nations. Emphasising the significance of the African continent, Massani described it as a “virgin investment landscape with so much untapped potential. “We need to attract investors from Qatar to utilise these opportunities,” noted Massani, pointing out KON Group’s sustainability initiatives, including animal waste recycling and food production facilitation offices. The company is currently working with the Government of Uganda to open KON Group’s first facilitation office for food products, Massani also said, adding that “we have seen very good incentives from the government.”

Qatar’s private sector is positioning itself as a regional leader in inclusive employment, creative industries, and talent development, according to a prominent Qatari business leader.Speaking at the Private Sector Forum during the Second World Summit for Social Development yesterday, Ashraf Abuissa, CEO and chairman of AbuIssa Holding, said Qatar’s investment in technology and its hosting of global events, such as the Web Summit and Mobile Congress, were helping to build a thriving ecosystem for startups and innovation.“Qatar is becoming a regional headquarters for major companies and an incubator for startups,” he said, noting that the country’s inclusive employment practices extend to remote work opportunities for communities facing political or cultural restrictions.Abuissa also highlighted Qatar’s labour protections and talent development systems, describing how his company nurtures employees through fast-track programmes and continuous training.He also lauded the government’s Wage Protection System (WPS) and its proactive monitoring of labour rights.Sonya Janahi, vice president for Asia at the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), underscored the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in avoiding unethical competition and economic burden.“Governments should not compete with the private sector. Instead, we must collaborate to create sustainable solutions,” she emphasised.Janahi also pointed to the growing role of corporate social responsibility (CSR): “Employers are giving back — supporting farmers, education, and healthcare systems. This is where social development happens.”Daan Wensing, CEO of IDH, described the private sector as a global catalyst, driving 80% of trade and generating millions of jobs. “We need to make growth more intentional—linking innovation with inclusivity, wages with well-being, and productivity with decent jobs,” he said.Wensing cited examples from the banana and tea sectors, where collective action among retailers, governments, and civil society helped close living wage gaps. “If we do this together, we can challenge the status quo and achieve more than we thought possible,” he added.

Qatar’s private sector is positioning itself as a regional leader in inclusive employment, creative industries, and talent development, according to a prominent Qatari business leader. Speaking at the Private Sector Forum during the Second World Summit for Social Development yesterday, Ashraf Abuissa, CEO and chairman of AbuIssa Holding, said Qatar’s investment in technology and its hosting of global events, such as the Web Summit and Mobile Congress, were helping to build a thriving ecosystem for startups and innovation. “Qatar is becoming a regional headquarters for major companies and an incubator for startups,” he said, noting that the country’s inclusive employment practices extend to remote work opportunities for communities facing political or cultural restrictions. Abuissa also highlighted Qatar’s labour protections and talent development systems, describing how his company nurtures employees through fast-track programmes and continuous training. He also lauded the government’s Wage Protection System (WPS) and its proactive monitoring of labour rights. Sonya Janahi, vice president for Asia at the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), underscored the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in avoiding unethical competition and economic burden. “Governments should not compete with the private sector. Instead, we must collaborate to create sustainable solutions,” she emphasised. Janahi also pointed to the growing role of corporate social responsibility (CSR): “Employers are giving back—supporting farmers, education, and healthcare systems. This is where social development happens.” Daan Wensing, CEO of IDH, described the private sector as a global catalyst, driving 80% of trade and generating millions of jobs. “We need to make growth more intentional—linking innovation with inclusivity, wages with well-being, and productivity with decent jobs,” he said. Wensing cited examples from the banana and tea sectors, where collective action among retailers, governments, and civil society helped close living wage gaps. “If we do this together, we can challenge the status quo and achieve more than we thought possible,” he added. Ends

At least 45,000 new jobs for women are expected to be created across the Arab region next year, an official of the UN Women announced today during a panel discussion held on the sidelines of the ‘Second World Summit for Social Development’, which will run until November 6 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).Speaking at the ‘Solutions Spotlight - Jobs, Skills & Care: Scaling Inclusive Employment for People-Centred Development’, Dr Moez Doraid, UN Women Regional Director for the Arab States, explained that employment generation for women in the Arab region is part of the ‘Surging Women’s Employment Initiative’ (SWEI) led by the UN Women and its partners.He said, “One of UN Women’s top priorities in the Arab region is to solve one of the most persistent problems, both in this region and globally, which is the low levels of women’s labour force participation. It’s a global problem, but in the Arab countries, it takes one of its most extreme manifestations: For the past three decades, women’s labour force participation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has stagnated at around 20%. That is nearly half the global levels.”Doraid pointed out that SWEI also aims to increase women’s labour force participation by “5 percentage points in five years” and also to address and overcome “a persistent paradox” in the MENA region, which is “the contrast between women’s capabilities that have advanced very rapidly primarily through educational attainment and their employment backlog.”Despite significant gains in education—where women now outnumber men in universities and make up 57% of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates—employment figures remain stubbornly low, Doraid lamented.“Women’s capabilities have advanced because women’s illiteracy has been halved in the last two decades. Today, there are more women than men enrolled in universities, and 57% of STEM graduates in the MENA region are women. However, when looking at the workforce, the average labour force participation rate for women across the region is only 20%. There are notable exceptions, such as Qatar, where the participation rate is 63%, nearly three times the regional average,” Doraid further explained.He said, “Women are increasingly represented in STEM education and entrepreneurship. For instance, in the MENA region, the percentage of women tech entrepreneurs surpasses that of Silicon Valley. Additionally, a significant growth area lies in the green economy, which addresses both environmental challenges and enhances women's employment opportunities.“And it covers the entire spectrum of the value chain, empowering women from access to finance to sales, including both in domestic and external markets. The third is the care economy because women constitute the majority of employees in this dimension, as well as care services, such as day care services. And we are doing that by addressing three dimensions of both overcoming obstacles and enabling women.”Doraid noted that SWEI’s approach spans macroeconomic policy, legal reform, and norm-shifting programmes, such as the ‘Dare to Care’ initiative, which encourages men to take on more domestic responsibilities. Currently, women perform “4.7 hours” of unpaid domestic work daily, compared to just “one hour” by men, he also said.He also urged governments and partners to adopt conducive macroeconomic policies, enforce laws, and support cultural shifts that allow women to balance family and career. After the panel discussion, Doraid took to LinkedIn to summarise the points he raised at the Solutions Spotlight event.“Women in the region remain vastly underrepresented in the labour market, despite being among the most educated in the world. SWEI tackles this paradox head-on, working to create 500,000 new jobs within five years and increase women’s employment by 5% by 2030.“The initiative combines evidence-based policy reform, legal change, and social norm transformation - backed by powerful partnerships with Arab governments, the EU, Spain, Germany, and the Islamic Development Bank. It also builds on positive momentum across the region, where 72% of fathers express a desire to spend more time with their children and 86% of policymakers support extended paternity leave - strong indicators of evolving mindsets toward shared care responsibilities,” he stated.Doraid added: “SWEI drives growth where women already lead in the Care, Green, and STEM Economies, and partners with over 700 private sector companies under the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to open new pathways for women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.”Ends

Qatar Development Bank (QBD) launched ‘TAMKEEN’ or the National Funding Gate, a unified digital platform for business financing in the country, during a ceremony held in Doha today. TAMKEEN brings together Qatar’s leading financial institutions under one roof, offering an integrated solution that simplifies access to financing for companies based in the country. The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 to build a competitive and dynamic local business ecosystem. It will serve as the central hub for companies seeking financing to support their growth. TAMKEEN also digitally connects applicants with participating national banks, reducing time and effort, while enabling banks to reach a wider range of potential clients. The initiative represents a strategic partnership between QDB and key players in Qatar’s financial sector, fostering innovative financing solutions that strengthen the overall business environment. QDB also announced the launch of the Credit Guarantee Programme, a revamped version of ‘Al Dhameen’ programme, which issues guarantees to partner banks providing financing to Qatar-based companies. The programme, which is now fully integrated into the National Funding Gate, encourages banks to fund local projects and businesses. At the launch ceremony, QDB CEO Abdulrahman bin Hesham al-Sowaidi said: “We are confident that this platform will mark a transformative leap in the efficiency and quality of business financing in Qatar. “It stands as a model of integration and partnership between the financial sector and the business community, supporting sustainable development and economic diversification. Through this initiative, we are advancing a resilient, dynamic, and competitive knowledge-based economy led by the private sector.” He added: “We have been working to develop the Credit Guarantee Programme to support risk-sharing with partner banks. We will allocate an initial amount of QR3bn for the programme. This is in response to the evolving needs of the business ecosystem and a broader range of customers, which will positively impact Qatar’s economic performance.” TAMKEEN embodies a unified national vision and a coordinated effort among leading financial and governmental institutions. Its development was overseen by QDB, under the guidance and leadership of Qatar Central Bank, and after coordinating with partner national banks, all with the shared goal of supporting the private sector and expanding financing solutions for businesses in Qatar. QDB continues its mission to empower Qatar’s private sector, enhancing its resilience and productivity. It remains committed to enabling entrepreneurs and innovators to launch and grow their businesses, helping them compete, contribute to Qatar’s economic development, and drive national progress. For more information or to apply for financing, visit www.nfg.qa. Ends