Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has unveiled an ambitious plan to double the number of ICT jobs by 2030 through its flagship programme, Scale Now, designed to accelerate the growth of digital startups and expand the nation’s technology workforce.
In a recent article by Joel Johnson for The Peninsula, Faraj Jassim Abdullah, Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT, said the programme aligns with the Qatar Digital Agenda 2030, aiming to create over 26,000 new jobs in the ICT sector and ensure that 10 percent of the national workforce holds advanced digital skills by the end of the decade.
TL;DR / Key Takeaways
- MCIT’s Scale Now aims to double ICT jobs in Qatar by 2030.
- The initiative will create over 26,000 technology jobs and ensure 10% of the workforce gains advanced digital skills.
- Focus sectors include infrastructure, healthcare, logistics, and tourism.
- Programme complements global tech events such as Web Summit Qatar and World AI Summit.
- Applications are open for Scale Now’s third cohort targeting scaling startups.
Accelerating Startup Growth and Global Expansion
According to Abdullah, Scale Now focuses on scaling high-potential startups that have already demonstrated market traction and are ready to expand internationally. “We are looking at companies that are ready to grow and sell globally,” he said.
Although the programme is sector-agnostic, it targets four priority industries, infrastructure, healthcare, logistics, and tourism, where emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning are expected to play a critical role.
Building a Knowledge-Driven Economy
The initiative is part of MCIT’s broader mission to transform Qatar into a regional technology hub, fostering a digitally skilled workforce capable of supporting the nation’s long-term diversification goals under the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Abdullah noted that the programme complements other major MCIT-led initiatives, including the Web Summit Qatar, Mobile World Congress, and the World AI Summit, which collectively strengthen Qatar’s innovation ecosystem and global technology profile.
Call for Entrepreneurs
Applications are now open for the third cohort of the Scale Now programme. Abdullah encouraged founders to apply, particularly those in the growth or scale-up phase, emphasising that the initiative offers a unique opportunity for startups to accelerate their expansion while contributing to Qatar’s digital economy.
“If you are a passionate founder, this is the right programme for you,” Abdullah said. “We want to see brilliant founders around us who can scale globally.”
Driving the Next Wave of Digital Transformation
By nurturing high-potential startups and advancing digital literacy, Scale Now is expected to shape Qatar’s next phase of economic transformation. The initiative reinforces MCIT’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven ICT ecosystem that generates employment and supports sustainable national growth.
