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Web Summit is back in Doha for its third straight year, with organisers expecting more than 30,000 attendees from over 120 countries to take part in the four-day event.
Held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, Web Summit Qatar continues to expand as a global meeting place for technology, innovation, investment and entrepreneurship, bringing together founders, investors, policymakers and industry leaders from around the world.
This year’s programme includes panels, keynotes and showcases across technology, artificial intelligence, digital culture, media, investment and startup growth, with participation from both local and international founders, investors, academics and business leaders.
Craig Becker, Chief Events Officer at Web Summit, said the event is designed to create meaningful connections that can translate into long-term economic outcomes.
“So a great example, in our first year we had an Irish company, TechMet,” Becker said. “The CEO was here, he managed to meet with representatives from QIA, and that single conversation led to $180 million worth of investment.”
“That one moment of two people meeting each other here led to something great. That is exactly what we are trying to create,” he emphasised.
Becker also pointed to the summit’s increasingly international profile. He said around 15% of participating companies are based in Qatar, while 85% are international, reflecting what he described as a rapidly expanding global footprint over the past three years.
Attendance has doubled since the inaugural edition in Doha, according to organisers. Becker said the growth has been driven not only by visitor numbers but also by increased partner participation and strong demand from startups.
“In year one we had 15,000 attendees. This year we’re up to 30,000,” he said. “We’ve got nearly 1,600 startups here, the startup programme is completely sold out, and there is a lot of appetite for the programme.”
According to a report by global consulting firm Silverlode, last year’s Web Summit Qatar generated more than €185 million in economic returns for the country.
Attendees stayed in Doha for an average of six days, resulting in more than 66,000 hotel nights and over 19,000 airline tickets, supporting the hospitality, aviation and services sectors.