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QNB Group, the Diamond Sponsor of Web Summit Qatar 2026, believes that transformation is no longer just a technological choice or digital tools, but a leadership imperative that reshapes every aspect of the organisation.From redefining customer experiences to introducing new ways of working and developing the capabilities essential for long-term success, transformation at QNB spans the entire business.Sustained banking leadership relies on turning strategy into disciplined, scalable execution, and at the heart of this effort is the Transformation Office. The office acts as the central engine of QNB’s change agenda, seamlessly connecting business objectives with strategy.It integrates innovation, operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and employee development into a coordinated and accountable framework. By bridging long-term strategy with day-to-day execution, the office ensures the momentum and structure needed to deliver measurable, impactful outcomes across QNB’s extensive international footprint.“As Diamond Sponsor of Web Summit Qatar, we are here to showcase exactly why QNB is recognised as a leader in the region. By highlighting our achievements, ongoing innovations, and unwavering commitment to an exceptional customer experience, we reaffirm our role at the forefront of the financial sector,” said Mohammed al-Issa, assistant vice-president of Strategy at QNB Group.He said, “This year, we are excited to showcase our latest product and service offers, including our cutting-edge Virtual Customer Service channels, which provide seamless, round-the-clock support; virtual cards for corporate clients, enabling secure and efficient business transactions; and leading-edge Distributed Ledger Technology payment solutions designed to streamline and safeguard cross-border payments. Our comprehensive suite of SME products empowers small and medium enterprises to scale and thrive in dynamic markets.”The Transformation Office provides a clear mechanism to convert strategic intent into action. It co-ordinates priorities, embeds accountability, and ensures that innovation strengthens resilience, trust, and long-term value creation across the group.QNB’s active participation at Web Summit Qatar offers a unique global opportunity to present the group’s latest innovations and digital solutions, developed to address evolving customer needs and drive sector-wide transformation.By integrating strong governance, new ways of working, cross-functional collaboration, and responsible technology adoption, the group positions itself as a catalyst for a smarter, more inclusive digital economy that supports businesses, empowers individuals, and contributes to national development goals.QNB’s support for the summit reflects this commitment. Collaboration with policymakers and fintech leaders is seen as essential to advancing responsible digital transformation and fostering a resilient, knowledge-based economy in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.For Web Summit Qatar 2026, QNB is leveraging its International Startup Accelerator, the QNBeyond Innovation Programme, demonstrating its dedication to fostering partnerships and creating solutions that are prepared for the future across its global network.“Engagement is a strategic necessity, not a symbolic presence. Exchanging ideas with global innovators and industry leaders allows us to challenge conventional thinking, refine our approach, and shape solutions that extend beyond QNB to benefit the wider financial ecosystem,” added al-Issa. 

As more than 30,000 founders, investors, developers, and innovators gather at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) for Web Summit Qatar 2026, HEC Paris, Doha will contribute to the global dialogue on technology and organisational decision-making through a masterclass addressing one of the most critical leadership challenges of today’s digital economy.Titled “Leading in the Age of AI: Building Digital Intelligence”, the masterclass will take place on February 3 and will be led by Prof Seungah Sarah Lee, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and organisations at HEC Paris, Doha.While Web Summit highlights cutting-edge developments in technology and innovation, HEC Paris, Doha’s contribution places the spotlight on the human dimension of artificial intelligence (AI) – how leaders think, decide, and shape organisations in an AI-driven world.Prof Lee’s research focuses on entrepreneurship, organisational design, and innovation, with particular attention to how global models can be adapted to local and regional contexts.The session challenges a common misconception: that AI adoption alone is sufficient to deliver competitive advantage.Instead, the masterclass emphasises that sustainable value creation depends on leadership capabilities – how leaders set priorities, manage risk, shape culture, and enable teams to experiment and execute responsibly.Participants will gain a practical framework for building digital intelligence, defined as the combination of strategic clarity, human judgement, and organisational routines that allow AI to be deployed confidently, ethically, and at scale.Joshua Kobb, chief growth and impact officer at HEC Paris, Doha, said: “Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept; it is a present reality.”“Yet technology without leadership is simply acceleration without direction,” he said. “At HEC Paris, Doha, we believe that the true driver of impact in the age of AI is the leader who applies technology with purpose, responsibility, and judgement.” 

Qatar Insurance has announced its participation as a Diamond Sponsor in Web Summit Qatar 2026, taking place from February 1 to 4 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).Marking its third participation in the largest global tech event hosted in Doha, Qatar Insurance will showcase its journey to build the region’s first insurance-powered digital ecosystem. The participation will also highlight the company’s transition from being primarily an insurance provider to becoming a fully integrated ecosystem, and how this shift has redefined digital services in Qatar.Qatar Insurance’s presence will feature a dedicated pavilion, serving as an open platform for the global tech community to discover the latest trends in the digital sector and explore the dynamics shaping the innovation and InsurTech landscapes across the Middle East and North Africa.The Qatar Insurance pavilion will host seminars and panel discussions led by the company’s executives alongside regional and global experts, shedding light on the present and future of innovation and investment in digital services across the region and worldwide.On the sidelines of the summit, Qatar Insurance will sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding with leading organisations, as part of the company’s commitment to leveraging its expertise to enhance digital services in Qatar while delivering efficient and convenient experiences to all users.Salem al-Mannai, Group CEO of Qatar Insurance, said: “Qatar Insurance is proud to be a national leader in innovation, and the region’s most successful insurer in developing digital solutions that enhance customer journeys and improve operational efficiency at the same time.“One of the defining aspects of our digital strategy in recent years, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and QCB’s Third Financial Sector Strategic Plan, has been our shift from predominantly developing insurance products to building our own digital ecosystem that also covers the non-insurance needs of individuals.”He said, “Thanks to this approach, we are now the only insurer in the market providing a single-platform experience for customers to manage most of their daily requirements without navigating multiple digital systems.”“Qatar Insurance has become a true benchmark in effectively investing in digital services and accurately understanding and responding to customers’ needs. Accordingly, we look forward to sharing our digital vision and experience with all participants and visitors, and to once again contributing as a Diamond Sponsor to the success of the Summit while showcasing Qatar’s digital model to the entire world.”For more details on Qatar Insurance’s programme at Web Summit Qatar 2026, visit ecosystem.qic.digital. To learn more about Qatar Insurance, visit qic.online. 

City University Qatar (CUQ) is set to take centre stage at Web Summit 2026 in Doha on February 1-4 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).As part of the summit, the university will host the Web Summit Meetup on February 3 at the CUQ, a gathering of alumni, tech leaders, and innovators to explore the future of digital transformation and learning.A key highlight will be the anticipated signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cisco, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at empowering CUQ students and faculty with cutting-edge digital infrastructure, innovative research opportunities, and industry-aligned learning experiences.In addition, the CUQ will host TEDx on February 4 at the university campus, creating a vibrant platform for dialogue and discovery.The event will feature a lineup of visionary speakers delivering compelling talks on the intersection of technology, culture, and education.Through these on-campus sessions, the CUQ aims to ignite bold ideas, foster meaningful connections, and reinforce its mission to inspire change and cultivate globally minded innovators.“Our participation in Web Summit 2026, alongside hosting TEDx at the CUQ, reflects our commitment to bringing global ideas to the region and sharing local excellence with the world showcasing our vision and values while reinforcing Qatar’s position as a global hub for innovation and intellectual exchange,” said CUQ president Prof Faris Gorashi Faris.With each initiative, CUQ continues to expand its global presence as a hub of knowledge, creativity, and opportunity. 

QNB Group, the Lead Sponsor and strategic partner of Web Summit Qatar 2026, is reaffirming its position as a driving force behind the country’s digital transformation journey.By uniting decades of financial expertise with cutting-edge innovation, QNB is helping shape Qatar into the region's premier fintech hub, fully aligned with the ambitions of Qatar National Vision 2030.“Digital transformation is not just about adopting technology but about reimagining banking as a catalyst for growth and resilience,” said Fatma al-Baker, executive vice-president, Infrastructure Services, QNB Group, in light of Qatar’s preparations to host the highly anticipated summit.She said: “At QNB, we are focused on ensuring our systems can adapt, scale, and innovate in ways that empower individuals, businesses, and the wider financial ecosystem, driving both economic progress and national objectives.”As the financial backbone of Qatar’s economy, QNB is leading the transformation of traditional banking practices through investments in agile and resilient infrastructure. This includes modernising customer journeys, embracing cloud technology, optimising operations, and prioritising advanced digital platforms to deliver seamless, secure, and scalable services.“The future of banking in Qatar depends on institutions that can balance stability with agility. Through our Transformation Office and strategic partnerships, we are building a strong, human-centric digital future that supports the Qatar National Vision 2030 and a knowledge-based economy,” added al-Baker.Through its multi-year role as Diamond Sponsor and strategic partner of Web Summit Qatar, QNB provides a platform for collaboration with global innovators, fintech players, and startups, building a dynamic financial ecosystem that accelerates innovation, fosters partnerships, and strengthens the wider economy.QNB will host a dedicated exhibition and thought leadership sessions at Web Summit Qatar 2026, featuring insights from its innovation and infrastructure teams. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how QNB is leveraging technologies, such as cloud platforms and AI, to deliver transformative, human-centred banking experiences that drive long-term economic growth. 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) will showcase Qatar's digital transformation journey and efforts to build a competitive digital economy through a joint interactive booth with the Ministry of Sports and Youth during the Web Summit Qatar 2026, to be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on February 1-4.The booth will highlight key national programmes supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, most notably the Digital Incubation Center, the TASMU Accelerator, and the "Scale Now" programme.The joint booth will feature a dedicated interactive theatre hosting panel discussions with leading technology experts and industry leaders, alongside live presentations and discussions on the latest digital trends and innovations.It will include a dedicated startup area, enabling companies to showcase their digital solutions and connect with investors and potential partners in sectors such as fintech, health tech, sustainability, smart cities, and other priority sectors.The MCIT will participate in a number of high-level sessions and organise a series of specialised masterclasses aimed at delivering practical content and applied knowledge for entrepreneurs, professionals, and policymakers.On the sidelines of the summit, the ministry is set to sign a number of memoranda of understanding with international partners to support co-operation in the fields of innovation and digital transformation.  

Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council is the strategic partner of this year’s Web Summit Qatar for the third consecutive year, and as the lead partner of this year’s Corporate Innovation Summit, a high-level, pre-summit event that has convened visionary corporate leaders over the past three years. Alongside leading global organisations, QRDI Council will showcase its programmes and initiatives at Web Summit Qatar 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), where attendees from around the world will gather. Located at E515, QRDI Council’s pavilion returns as a hub for international entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders. The space will showcase initiatives delivered with local and global partners, while serving as a forum for networking and knowledge exchange. Throughout the event, attendees can participate in speaker sessions and discussions designed to accelerate growth across Qatar’s growing innovation ecosystem. The pavilion will provide a purpose-built environment that enables partnerships and conversations to happen that contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030. Bringing together leaders and innovators to confront the issues facing the business world today, the Corporate Innovation Summit offers a one-day networking experience which includes masterclasses and opportunities to connect with pioneers shaping the future of enterprise in the 21st century. 

QNB Group will continue as Diamond Sponsor of Web Summit Qatar 2026, it was announced Sunday. The three-year collaboration reinforces QNB’s role as a key driver of digital innovation and fintech development in Qatar and across the wider MEA region, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Abdulla Mubarak al-Khalifa, CEO of QNB Group, said: “As a Diamond Sponsor of Web Summit Qatar, QNB shares Qatar’s ambition to build a knowledge-based, diversified economy. Together, we are shaping a future where innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology thrive, strengthening Qatar’s position on the global stage.” He added: “This partnership enables QNB to translate innovation into measurable impact. Through our Transformation Office, we are modernising customer journeys, operations, and platforms to deliver secure, seamless, and scalable banking experiences that benefit both businesses and individuals.” The sponsorship will accelerate Qatar’s digital transformation by leveraging global technology expertise, strengthening the fintech ecosystem, and empowering entrepreneurship by connecting more than 1,500 startups with investors to nurture the next generation of innovators. Visitors can explore QNB’s exhibition booth to experience cutting-edge banking technologies and join expert-led sessions showcasing how QNB is driving a digital-first future while supporting sustainable economic growth. 

Web Summit Qatar has announced that the event’s startup programme is officially sold out, with over 1,600 startups from around the world set to gather at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) from February 1-4, 2026. The event floor is also at full capacity, with leading global companies including IBM, TikTok, Microsoft, Huawei, Qatar Airways, Snapchat, and many more confirmed to partner. With demand continuing to rise, Web Summit expects the event to reach full capacity in the coming weeks. Returning to Doha for its third edition, Web Summit Qatar showcases Qatar’s leading role in the region’s growth as a global tech hub, driven by smart-city innovation, digital transformation, and diversification beyond oil. Discussions will explore how technology can tackle financial inequality, healthcare gaps, and climate challenges, reinforcing Web Summit’s mission to unite people and ideas that can deliver real-world impact. From Lisbon to Doha, Vancouver, and Rio de Janeiro, Web Summit has evolved into the world’s largest technology and innovation event series and the biggest gathering of entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, cultural figures, and global decision-makers. This year, Web Summit Qatar also expects more than 30,000 attendees from over 120 countries, and more than 700 investors and over 600 media to gather in Doha.A Web Summit spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to see an unprecedented level of interest in Web Summit Qatar 2026, especially from the startups which represent the future of technology. “Web Summit has always been the place where you meet the next decade’s most influential people, and with our unique combination of founders, investors and leaders across every sector, it is uniquely placed to help drive technological and economic progress.” Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to dominate discussions at Web Summit Qatar 2026. AI is fuelling some of the biggest conversations shaping the world, influencing software, healthcare, sports, energy, creativity, and even space. AI will continue to take centre stage, with discussions about who is steering its development, who is funding it, and how executives, innovators, and investors can get real value from the technology. With a strong mix of content creators, media executives, and creative leaders attending, the event will also look at how technology is changing the way content is made, shared, and consumed. As AI transforms how people create content, new strategies are required for how to break through the noise. Beyond this, Web Summit Qatar will dive into the rise of quantum computing and its growing influence on the tech world, along with breakthroughs in fintech, energy, government, health, and manufacturing that are pushing global innovation forward. The ‘Web Summit Qatar Meetups’ will connect attendees with the people that matter to them. After introducing meetups in 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Web Summit continues its mission to help build meaningful connections through meetups, powered by its proprietary software, Summit Engine. Aiming to create a more intimate and community-driven experience, the objective is to invite attendees to at least one personalised meetup. Qatar Museums Chairperson Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani, the CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar), are among the confirmed key Qatari voices to grace the event. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa brings deep sporting, cultural, financial and organisational expertise to Al Shaqab, where her lifelong commitment to culture, education, and outreach has shaped numerous local and international initiatives. Sheikh Ali, a board member of Katara Hospitality, Media City Qatar, Qatari Diar, and the Qatar Free Zones Authority, is a leading voice in the country’s economic diplomacy. He previously worked at the Prime Minister’s Office on Qatar’s economic and investment agenda. 

Qatar Museums Chairperson Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is expected to be among the key Qatari voices at Web Summit Qatar 2026, highlighting the growing role of culture and creativity in global technology conversations as the event returns to the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre from February 1 to 4. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa’s presence signals that Web Summit Qatar continues to position itself as more than a technology conference, blending culture, creativity and innovation into the broader digital agenda. A strong investment and policy dimension is also expected, led by Invest Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani. During Web Summit Qatar 2025, Invest Qatar participated in sessions and side events that promoted Qatar as a destination for global startups and investors. In 2026, Sheikh Ali Alwaleed is likely to expound on Qatar’s investment climate, venture capital opportunities across the GCC, and the mechanisms supporting startup funding and scale-up from Qatar into international markets. Local founders who featured in the previous edition are also set to return to the stage, including Snoonu founder and CEO Hamad al-Hajri. He figured among the most closely watched Qatari entrepreneurs in 2025, when homegrown platforms were highlighted as proof of the country’s fast-maturing startup ecosystem. Urban Point CEO Saif Qazi and Skipcash founder Mohammed al-Delaimi are expected to share insights from the digital services and fintech sectors. In 2025, panels featuring local founders focused on customer acquisition, regulation and regional expansion. Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, secretary general of the National Planning Council; and Mohammed Abdulsalam al-Emadi, executive director of Investment and Incubation at Qatar Development Bank will also headline the speakers. Both institutions were actively engaged in Web Summit Qatar 2025, where discussions centred on economic diversification, incubation programmes and public–private collaboration. With expertise in talent development and innovation education, Khalifa Alyafei, CEO of the Qatar Finance and Business Academy; and Sylia Khecheni, head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Doha for Science and Technology, are likely to revisit skills development, entrepreneurship training, and the role of academia in feeding the startup ecosystem, topics that gained momentum during last year’s summit. From the corporate and public-sector side, Najla Ibrahim al-Mutawa, executive vice president of Strategy and Business Development at QNB Group; and Eman al-Kuwari, director of Digital Innovation at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, are expected to speak on digital transformation, corporate innovation and the government’s role in enabling emerging technologies. Adding a creator-economy dimension is Haneen Alsaify, a content creator, chemical engineer and entrepreneur, reflecting Web Summit Qatar’s continued expansion into digital influence and online entrepreneurship, an area that attracted strong engagement during the 2025 edition. The third edition of Web Summit Qatar is witnessing a strong demand for participation and expected to attract around 30,000 participants from over 120 countries, organisers said. 

The Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) recently hosted a team from Web Summit Qatar, led by Dima Wahbeh, deputy country manager at Web Summit Qatar, alongside other QBWA members.The meeting aimed to explore ways of co-operation and the exchange of expertise in the fields of innovation and technology, and was part of QBWA’s strategic vision to empower Qatari women and enhance their presence in the global economic landscape.The meeting discussed opportunities for collaboration between the QBWA and the Web Summit Qatar team. Both parties agreed to expand the scope of partnership and participation in the upcoming 2026 edition of Web Summit Qatar in February.Vice-chairwoman Aisha Hussain Alfardan emphasised that the meeting reflects QBWA’s commitment to strengthening its presence at major global events hosted by Qatar, foremost among them, Web Summit, one of the world’s leading platforms in technology and innovation. She highlighted the summit’s remarkable success in previous editions, attracting prominent tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the globe.Alfardan further explained that QBWA’s collaboration with global platforms, such as Web Summit, is aligned with its vision to empower Qatari women and enhance their presence in the digital economy and technology-driven innovation.She noted that this partnership will open new opportunities for women entrepreneurs to gain experience in modern technologies and develop their ventures using innovative digital solutions. She added that QBWA is keen to diversify its activities across multiple sectors, in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to build a knowledge-based economy and foster innovation and creativity.Wahbeh commended the significant role played by the QBWA in supporting and empowering women, noting that this collaboration reflects Web Summit’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, and developing women’s participation in technology and digital entrepreneurship.She affirmed that Web Summit’s ‘Women in Tech’ programme is one of the global summit’s key pillars, designed to increase women’s representation in the tech sector and empower them to play an active role in shaping the future of the digital economy.Wahbeh added that collaboration with QBWA represents an important step in highlighting the success stories of Qatari women and showcasing their pioneering experiences in innovation and entrepreneurship — contributions that will enrich the summit’s content and strengthen Qatar’s position as a regional hub for excellence in this field.Both parties concluded the meeting by emphasising the importance of continuing collaboration and joint efforts in the coming period, in preparation for a distinguished participation by QBWA at Web Summit 2026. Both sides expressed optimism that their cooperation will further advance innovation and the empowerment of Qatari women in entrepreneurship and technology.

The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee announced that preparations are complete for hosting the third edition of the global event in Qatar, set to take place in less than 100 days. The summit will bring together leaders, experts, entrepreneurs and investors in technology and innovation from around the world. The upcoming edition is expected to witness record participation, welcoming over 30,000 attendees from more than 120 countries, alongside 1,500 startups, 700 investors and 600 media representatives, making it the largest edition in the history of Web Summit Qatar. HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee, said: "The first two editions of Web Summit Qatar were pivotal in cementing the country’s position on the global technology stage. They drew record participation from startups, investors and experts from around the world, and highlighted Qatar’s advanced infrastructure, technological capabilities and organisational excellence, establishing it as a preferred destination for major international events." HE Sheikh Jassim added: "We are building on the success achieved in the 2024 and 2025 editions through meticulous preparations for the third edition, which we aim to make the most outstanding in terms of experience, content and international participation. This reflects the rapid evolution of Qatar’s innovation ecosystem and reinforces the nation’s leading role in advancing the global dialogue on the future of technology and entrepreneurship." He reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to providing an exceptional experience for participants and visitors, reflecting the nation's advanced infrastructure, skilled national talent and strong coordination among all relevant entities. He expressed his aspiration for this edition to be the largest and most impactful yet, aligning with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and strengthening Qatar's position as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. Web Summit Qatar serves as a key platform for governments, companies, innovators and investors to explore the digital economy and the future of technology. Hosting the third edition continues Qatar’s success in organising two exceptional editions that cemented its position as a regional and global centre for innovation and entrepreneurship. Preliminary indicators show that startups from more than 60 countries have confirmed their participation in the summit, underscoring Qatar's growing status as an attractive destination for startups from around the world. The previous edition of the summit saw the participation of 228 Qatari startups out of a total of 1,520, marking a 140% increase compared to the inaugural edition of the global event and reflecting the nation’s growing support for entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Web Summit Qatar plays an active role in supporting startups and helping them advance their entrepreneurial journeys. Among the companies that have expanded following their participation in previous editions are Be My Sense, EnergyX and One Connect, which established a presence in Qatar through the Qatar Financial Centre, expanding their operations across the region. Chex also secured promising opportunities for growth after meeting leading regional accelerators during the summit. Ahmed El Abed, co-founder and CEO of Be My Sense, which develops technological solutions for individuals with hearing disabilities, said that Web Summit Qatar 2025 was a turning point for his company. The summit enabled him to secure support from Qatar Development Bank and the Qatar Business Incubation Centre, expanding his company’s global partnerships. Meanwhile, Sean Park, co-founder and CEO of EnergyX, stated that his participation in the summit led to investment announcements exceeding $100mn in the GCC over the next five years, in addition to registering his company with the Qatar Financial Centre to support regional expansion. Hosting Web Summit Qatar 2026 reflects Qatar's commitment to advancing its innovation ecosystem and promoting a knowledge-based economy in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. It reinforces the nation’s position as a global platform that brings together creative minds and opens new horizons for collaboration and partnerships in the technology sector. Web Summit Qatar is the regional edition of the world's largest technology event. It aims to strengthen cooperation among governments, companies, innovators and investors, and to showcase the latest global trends in digital transformation, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies. The summit serves as a strategic platform for Qatar to reaffirm its position as a leading centre for innovation and technology in the Middle East. (QNA)