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The third edition of Web Summit Qatar has officially opened to sold-out crowds, with over 30,000 innovators, entrepreneurs and tech fans arriving in Doha. This year’s summit brings together more than 1,600 startups, 900 investors and 400 speakers from around the world, making it the largest edition in Qatar so far.
Running from 1–4 February, the summit features talks, panels, networking opportunities and showcases of the latest technology and innovation. Participants come from over 120 countries, with leading global companies including IBM, Microsoft, Huawei and Qatar Airways among the event’s partners.
Shifting tech power
Speaking on opening night, Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave pointed to changing global dynamics in technology. Referring to demonstrations at the event, he said, “We just saw the capabilities of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world, built by UniTree, a Chinese company.”
Cosgrave said Western firms remain major players but are “struggling to keep up with the growing pace of Chinese innovation.” He added, “Three years ago, people were talking about entering a multi-polar world. We are now living in a multi-polar world.”
Issam Hijazi spotlight
Opening night also highlighted Issam Hijazi, the Palestinian/Jordanian/Australian founder of the video app Upscrolled, who made his first public appearance since the platform’s rapid rise.
Upscrolled recently became the number one free app on both the US Apple App Store and Google Play Store, growing from around 150,000 users to more than one million in a week. Hijazi previously worked at companies including IBM, Oracle and Hitachi.
Backing startups
The summit also featured major announcements aimed at strengthening Qatar’s startup ecosystem. The prime minister announced an expansion of the country’s ‘fund of funds’ programme, building on the Qatar Investment Authority’s initial $1 billion commitment. “I am pleased to announce the expansion of the fund of funds,” he said, adding that an additional $2 billion would be invested.
The programme has already anchored 12 major venture capital firms in Doha, underscoring Qatar’s push to position itself as a regional tech hub.
Global voices
Other headline speakers scheduled across the summit include Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, Eduardo Saverin of B Capital, Larry Li of Amino Capital, Colin Kaepernick of Lumi and Greek economist an former minister of finance Yanis Varoufakis, reflecting the summit’s international scope.
Web Summit Qatar provides a platform for startups, investors, developers and tech leaders to connect, explore new ideas and form partnerships, reinforcing its role as a key meeting point for technology and entrepreneurship in the region.