Web Summit Qatar's second edition concludes with record participation

The second edition of Web Summit Qatar has come to a close on Wednesday, following a 4-day run at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, re-asserting the tech event's prominent standing on the global stage.The summit brought together an exceptional group of elite entrepreneurs, investors, and tech experts, with a record 25,700 attendees surpassing last year's attendance by over 10,000. The event also drew participation from 723 investors and 1,520 startups, 47 percent of which were founded by women, an increase of 51 percent from last year's edition.The Startup Qatar pavilion saw a large turnout from global participants, underscoring the importance of incentives announced by the Qatar Financial Centre ahead of the summit. More than 1,634 companies registered to open offices in Qatar. Licences have already been granted to 156 companies during the event.During the summit, 56 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between Qatari institutions and leading global tech companies, doubling last year's agreements and highlighting Qatar's role as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, commented on the summit's exceptional success, stating: "Web Summit Qatar 2025 proved to be a defining moment in Qatar's journey towards building a knowledge-based economy and fostering innovation. The summit has provided a world-class platform for international collaboration and solidified Qatar's role as a driving force in shaping the future of a sustainable, globally competitive and diversified economy, in line with our National Vision 2030."HE Sheikh Jassim lauded the participation of 228 Qatari startups, who successfully showcased their innovative solutions to the global tech community. He emphasised that their presence significantly strengthens Qatar's investment landscape while elevating Qatari entrepreneurs on the global stage."Hosting Web Summit is a strategic initiative that further establishes Qatar as a leading global hub for innovation and technology," he said. "This year, we achieved record-breaking participation in terms of attendees, startups, investors and speakers from around the world, providing invaluable opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and networking."Paddy Cosgrave, Founder and CEO of Web Summit, praised the summit's growth and success, stating that Web Summit Qatar 2025 has seen a tremendous rise in participation, with attendee numbers rising by 72 percent. The number of startups exhibiting has increased by 45 percent, while Qatari startup participation has increased by 140 percent, highlighting the attractiveness of the startup ecosystem in Qatar and reaffirming its standing as the destination of choice for innovation and entrepreneurship. Paddy Cosgrave stressed that Web Summit will continue to support startups and open doors of opportunity to investors and entrepreneurs from around the world.Speaking at a panel titled 'NDS3 as a roadmap towards startup enablement,' HE Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau and Secretary General of the National Planning Council, reaffirmed that Qatar is solidifying its position as a global destination for entrepreneurship through a clear national strategy, in line with Qatar's National Vision 2030.HE Dr. Abdulaziz noted that Qatar was the first GCC state to launch a national vision in 2008, followed by successive development strategies culminating in the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030. Launched last year, the strategy prioritises building a competitive economy with strong support for small and medium-sized enterprises."The doubling down that we're doing in VC funding through QIA and others, the amazing work that Qatar Development Bank is doing by providing access to funding and access to information, is helping entrepreneurs exist and flourish. Qatar is very well connected through the right infrastructure, the right ports, the right airports, a national carrier that's connecting us to the region and globally."On the final day, Metalchemy, a nanotech startup focused on solving the food waste crisis, was announced as the winner of PITCH Powered by Jusour. This prestigious competition celebrates groundbreaking innovations and transformative ideas."AI emerged as the standout sector at the summit, representing 17% of startups. Other heavily represented sectors included SaaS, Healthtech, Fintech, and Education. The summit facilitated more than 120 AI-powered meetups, offering excellent networking and collaborative opportunities.Over 700 media outlets globally were covering the event, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters, Al Jazeera and CNBC.Web Summit Qatar 2025 saw the participation of more than 723 investors, including key players like Greycroft, 500 Global and Peak XV, providing invaluable opportunities for startups to connect with top-tier investors.Reflecting the summit's long-term impact, early-stage startups that attended Web Summit Qatar 2024 secured USD 120 million in funding over the past year.Web Summit Qatar 2025 marks a significant milestone for Qatar, reaffirming its role as a global leader in tech innovation and entrepreneurship. The summit showcased Qatar's commitment to advancing its National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy, positioning the country as a key player in driving future technological progress and collaboration.