Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, opened Web Summit Qatar 2026 with a keynote outlining the country’s ambition to actively shape the future of technology and innovation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Doha, he said the summit, now in its third edition, has grown into a key platform for the global technology and innovation community.

He noted that it is also playing an increasing role in driving investment activity, according to Arab Founders.

The Prime Minister added that Web Summit Qatar has helped position the country as a meeting point for advanced technology projects, founders and global investors. He said this supports Qatar’s broader goal of building a competitive, innovation-led economy.

He highlighted the role of Qatar’s national AI company, KAY. The company strengthens local data sovereignty, supports innovation, and contributes to the development of future technologies.

The Prime Minister announced a major expansion of Qatar’s Fund of Funds programme. The total supported investment volume has risen to US$3 billion.

This is up from US$1 billion announced in February 2024. The programme supports venture capital firms and startup investment.

To further support founders, the government will provide local startups with access to high-performance computing power.

The government will provide local startups with high-performance computing power through cloud service credits. It has also increased incentives for establishing and scaling successful companies eightfold.

In addition, Qatar is launching a new programme offering residency of up to 10 years. It will be available to entrepreneurs, investors, senior employees and executives.

The scheme includes tax facilitation and simplified company formation procedures. It aims to position Qatar as one of the most founder-friendly destinations in the region.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Middle East, based on image by Visit Qatar via Unsplash