Web Summit Qatar 2026 Hits New Heights in Attendance and Investment

By Web Desk :

Web Summit, one of the world’s leading technology gatherings, said nearly 70 start-ups from its Qatar Startup Programme have collectively raised $205m in funding since last year.

Web Summit Qatar 2026 wrapped up its third edition in Doha on Wednsday, drawing more than 30,000 participants.

Held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, the event brought together 30,274 attendees, 1,637 start-ups and 931 investors from 127 countries. 

Web Summit, one of the world’s leading technology gatherings, said nearly 70 start-ups from its Qatar Startup Programme have collectively raised $205m in funding since last year.

According to figures published on Wednesday, artificial intelligence and machine learning led all sectors with $125m raised, followed by data and analytics at $41m and fintech and financial services at $26m.

When accounting for all participating companies, including start-ups, speakers and partners, funding over the past year exceeded $28bn.

Plantaform won the PITCH start-up competition at Web Summit Qatar 2026, which organisers say has a track record of helping companies secure significant investment. 

Firms that attended Web Summit Qatar last year have raised more than $463bn in total lifetime funding.

Margarida David, Web Summit Startup Manager, said the figures demonstrate the value of connecting founders with investors.

“It also tells the broader ecosystem that Qatar is fast becoming a serious launchpad for global tech companies. Web Summit Qatar is now the largest tech event in the Middle East, joining 30,000 attendees from 127 countries who came to Doha to discover and debate the future,” said David.

At the opening ceremony of this year’s edition on Sunday, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced the expansion of the Qatar Investment Authority’s Fund of Funds programme and new incentives for entrepreneurs.

“To reinforce Qatar’s commitment to the global startup ecosystem, I am pleased to announce the expansion of the Fund of Funds – building on the Qatar Investment Authority’s initial USD 1 billion program, which has already anchored 12 major VC funds in Doha. We are expanding the program by an additional USD 2 billion,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chair of the Permanent Committee for Hosting the Web Summit, said the strong turnout of this year’s edition reflected the summit’s growing international status.

He said the early sell-out of tickets and the start-up programme confirmed Web Summit Qatar’s prominent place on the global technology events calendar, adding that the impact extended beyond direct economic returns by strengthening Qatar’s position as a centre for innovation.

He noted that participation was exceptional in both number and quality across start-ups, investors, international speakers and partners, crediting the event’s content, networking opportunities, and Qatar’s investment environment and infrastructure. 

The summit also saw the signing of several memorandums of understanding between government entities, private companies and international institutions, focusing on artificial intelligence, fintech, the digital economy, media, investment and entrepreneurship. 

According to the data from Director of the Government Communications Office and Chair of the Permanent Committee for Hosting the Web Summit, summit has helped build international partnerships with major global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft and TikTok and encouraged hundreds of investors and trade delegations to explore cooperation with Qatari institutions.

Record figures of attendance are expected to drive increased spending, hotel bookings and air travel compared with previous editions, delivering a clear boost to sectors including tourism, hospitality, aviation and services.

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