- Web Summit Qatar 2025 will build on the success of the 2024 edition, positioning Qatar as a key global tech hub.
- The Runway to Web Summit event showcased Qatar’s local startups, with companies like SkipCash, Adeer, Wqtah, and Kafy sharing their innovations.
- Qatar Development Bank’s support through initiatives like the Startup Qatar Investment Programme continues to foster a thriving tech ecosystem.
- Web Summit Qatar 2025 is expected to attract over 15,000 attendees, further connecting the tech communities of the Middle East, Africa, and India.
Qatar is gearing up to solidify its position as a global tech powerhouse by hosting the Web Summit Qatar 2025, following the tremendous success of the 2024 edition. The excitement surrounding the upcoming event was previewed recently during a special gathering at M7, where Scale7—an incubator initiative by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and M7—organized the latest Runway to Web Summit.
These events serve as a key support system for local tech communities, providing them with a platform to showcase their innovations and further their growth before the main Web Summit events.
At the gathering, Web Summit’s founder and CEO, Paddy Cosgrave, was joined by QDB CEO Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, who came together to discuss the dynamic future of technology and its influence on Qatar’s burgeoning ecosystem. In a show of local talent, some of Qatar’s brightest startups—SkipCash, Adeer, Wqtah, and Kafy—also took the stage, unveiling their latest breakthroughs and plans for the future.
Moderated by Hamad Al-Amari, a well-known Qatari comedian and entrepreneur with an international background in both Ireland and the USA, the event provided a space for open discussions. Al-Amari encouraged participants to share their entrepreneurial journeys and perspectives on Qatar’s business landscape, highlighting the thriving local ecosystem.
Paddy Cosgrave, the driving force behind Web Summit, expressed his enthusiasm about Qatar’s growing tech scene. “It’s fantastic to be in Doha today, alongside some truly impressive local startups. The talent and potential here are exceptional, and we’re thrilled to see some of last year’s participants coming back as partners for this year’s event,” he said.
“It’s clear that Qatar is making great strides in building a robust startup ecosystem, and we are particularly excited to be working alongside Qatar Development Bank, whose support has been instrumental in fostering the country’s innovation landscape.”
The success of Web Summit Qatar 2024 provided a solid foundation that is expected to be amplified in 2025. As highlighted by Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organizing Committee, the inaugural event served as a pivotal moment for Qatar.
“The success of Web Summit Qatar 2024 underscored Qatar’s role as a key hub for innovation in the region. The event showcased exceptional talent and provided a platform for collaboration across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa,” he explained. “Looking ahead to 2025, we are confident that the event will continue to grow, creating deeper partnerships and driving further progress in the tech and innovation sectors.”
In February, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) also introduced its Startup Qatar Investment Programme, an initiative designed to provide crucial support to tech startups looking to establish or expand their operations in Qatar. The announcement of 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the event marked the start of numerous strategic partnerships, further advancing Qatar’s tech ecosystem.
The Runway to Web Summit event also featured an important conversation about Qatar’s role in driving innovation, led by Abdulrahman Hesham Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QDB. “Web Summit Qatar is a testament to Qatar’s emergence as a global hub for innovation,” he said. “When thousands of startups from around the world express interest in our ecosystem, it signals a transformative moment. We have built an environment where innovation thrives—where government support meets entrepreneurial spirit, and where brilliant ideas can turn into global solutions. Through initiatives like Web Summit, Qatar is becoming a launchpad for visionary entrepreneurs, offering them unparalleled opportunities to grow and make a global impact.”
During the event, the contributions of Qatari startups were also in the spotlight. Founders shared their experiences, challenges, and ambitions, offering insight into the thriving local startup scene.
SkipCash, a QR-based mobile payment platform, and Wqtah, a platform for booking local experiences, were two startups that had participated in Web Summit Qatar 2024 and were returning for the 2025 event as partners. Both startups spoke about how their participation in last year’s event helped them build momentum and prepare for the future.
SkipCash, which recently won the Best Smart Solution award at the Qatar Digital Business Awards 2024, discussed how being part of the Web Summit had helped boost its credibility and visibility within the regional tech ecosystem. Similarly, Wqtah, which took home the award for Best Company in Digital Commerce, shared how the event allowed them to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and investors, opening doors for growth and new opportunities.
Adeer, an AI-powered business management platform, also joined the conversation, showcasing its recent success at the Qatar Digital Business Awards, where it won the title of Best Mobile App. Adeer’s participation at the Web Summit in Lisbon in November 2024 further highlights the growing international recognition of Qatar-based startups.
Kafy, a promising food-tech platform, rounded out the panel, sharing how it leverages artificial intelligence to optimize restaurant and food shop operations. By addressing issues such as food waste and cost reduction, Kafy is playing a role in transforming the food service industry through tech-driven innovation.
Looking ahead, Web Summit Qatar 2025 is shaping up to be an even larger and more influential event, building on the success of its inaugural edition. With the global Web Summit community already spanning across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, Web Summit Qatar is set to establish itself as a crucial event for connecting the tech ecosystems of the Middle East, Africa, and India. The 2025 edition is expected to attract over 15,000 attendees, including startup founders, investors, industry thought leaders, and global innovators.
Web Summit’s commitment to fostering connections and facilitating collaboration among the world’s brightest minds is evident in its continued expansion and impact. The event’s legacy of connecting people, ideas, and solutions that drive global change began in 2009 as a small 150-person conference in Dublin.
Today, Web Summit has grown into one of the world’s largest and most influential technology events, with a global reach that now spans across continents, including its presence in Lisbon, Rio, Vancouver, and Hong Kong, and now, Doha.
For Qatar, the upcoming Web Summit 2025 is not just a platform for showcasing local innovations—it is also a significant milestone in the country’s broader vision of becoming a global tech leader.
With Qatar’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration, Web Summit Qatar is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of the tech ecosystem in the Middle East and beyond. Through its emphasis on partnerships, support for startups, and connections with global investors and innovators, Qatar is well on its way to becoming a hub for transformative ideas and groundbreaking technologies.
As the countdown to Web Summit Qatar 2025 continues, the excitement and anticipation are growing, not only for the event itself but for the immense opportunities it will bring to both local and global entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators. Qatar is poised to showcase its evolution as a tech hub on the world stage, and Web Summit Qatar 2025 will undoubtedly serve as a defining moment in this journey.
