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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)

His Excellency Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani convened a meeting with Liaison Director of German BVMW GCC Office Nizar Maarouf, and Managing Director Christian Schwippert, to discuss coordination and the roadmap for the second edition of the German Startup Pavilion at Web Summit Qatar 2026, taking place from 1st to 4th of February 2026.During the meeting, HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani reaffirmed his and his team's full support for the upcoming edition, ensuring strong collaboration and facilitation to make it an even greater success."Our work with the German startup community exemplifies our broader strategy to foster meaningful international collaboration in the technology and innovation spaces.""I personally look forward to seeing how the next wave of German startups tap into the opportunities that we continue to expand year over year," His Excellency added.Nizar Maarouf added: "We look forward to the active participation of the German Startup Pavilion at Web Summit Qatar 2026, following the great success of our first presence at the last edition of the event, which saw the participation of more than 100 German companies. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Sheikh Jassim and his team for their continuous support of our work and the hospitality shown to the German startup participants at Web Summit 2025."The meeting highlighted the shared commitment to further strengthen Qatari-German cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for partnership and investment in a way that positions Qatar as a global hub for technology and innovation.

The third edition of the Web Summit Qatar, scheduled for February 1, is witnessing a strong demand for participation, more than four months before its launch, with expectations of attracting approximately 30,000 participants from more than 120 countries. This came during the meeting of the Web Summit Permanent Organising Committee today in Qatar, chaired by HE Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani. The Committee received reports on significant demand for exhibition space, tickets, masterclasses and speaking opportunities, more than four months ahead of the event. This strong interest and engagement reflect confidence in Qatar's position as a leading destination for entrepreneurs, investors and startups to convene. The 2026 edition is set to welcome 30,000 attendees from over 120 countries, including more than 1,500 startups, 700 investors, 350 speakers, and 600 media representatives, making it the largest and most diverse Web Summit Qatar to date. More than 80 partnership agreements have been signed with leading international institutions in the fields of technology, media, and investment. HE GCO Director, Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani said, "Web Summit Qatar 2026 will bring together leading figures from technology, digital economy and entrepreneurship, demonstrating Qatar's ability to convene world-class events. Next year's Web Summit provides an ideal platform to strengthen our innovation and entrepreneurship landscape, expand our global presence, support Qatar National Vision 2030 goals in building a diversified, knowledge-based economy founded on innovation, and establish the country as a major regional and international business hub."