Qatar’s government is expanding its $1 billion startup fund and accelerating regulatory reforms to position the country as a top regional hub for entrepreneurship and investment, HE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said at Web Summit Qatar 2025.
“We plan to renovate our entire economy to make Qatar the top regional destination for startups and create an ecosystem for startups to innovate and thrive. A year ago, we gathered here for the first Web Summit in the MENA region. Today, as we look across the same space, we see something remarkable: a vision realised, ambitions surpassed, and the future unfolding before our eyes. Here in Qatar, we are creating a platform where innovation meets opportunity, and partnerships transform global industries,” the PM said.
“We want to create opportunities for future generations, and this runs deep within our national identity, reflected in many of our domestic and international commitments. Through the catalyst of Web Summit Qatar, we are witnessing a convergence of talent, technology and ambition–not just in Qatar, but throughout the region.”
The fund, launched in 2024 by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has now selected six global investment firms to deploy capital, Qatar tribune reported. Each firm will open regional offices in Qatar, focusing on digital health, fintech, clean energy, AI, and manufacturing sectors.
Since its launch, the programme has attracted over 2,000 applications from 60 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkiye, and India.
The announcement comes as Qatar continues to attract global investors and technology firms looking to expand in the Middle East. The country moved up 11 places in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index in the past year, the largest jump among the top 100 business environments in the index.
