Lisbon, November 11 (QNA) - HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office, Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organizing Committee, and Head of Qatar's delegation to Web Summit Lisbon 2026, affirmed that Qatar's participation in the summit for the fourth consecutive year reflects the growing prominence of the country on the global technology stage, from showcasing investment opportunities and building partnerships to translating international interest into companies and investments based in Qatar.

In an interview with the Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency explained that Lisbon serves as a starting point for dialogue with the global technology community, a conversation that will continue at Web Summit Qatar 2027, which Doha will host from January 31 to February 3, 2027.

He noted that the direct and indirect economic impact of the previous edition of Web Summit Qatar exceeded QAR 1 billion, according to a recently released report, with a contribution of approximately QAR 661 million to GDP, underscoring the summit's growing role as an economic driver and a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in Qatar. He emphasized that continued support for startups and the investment funds dedicated to them remains a strategic commitment for Qatar, an integral part of the Third National Development Strategy, and a key tool for diversifying the national economy and building a knowledge-based economy, in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Commenting on Qatar's participation in teh event, His Excellency said "when we first participated in Web Summit Lisbon, our goal was to introduce Qatar and the inaugural edition of Web Summit in the region. Today, we arrive in Lisbon having successfully organized three editions of Web Summit Qatar, accompanied by a comprehensive ecosystem of entities, programs, and funds dedicated to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.

"We have moved beyond introducing Qatar to the global technology community and are now focused on building partnerships and delivering tangible results.

"Our message this year is that Qatar is not merely a destination to explore; it is a place to establish and grow a business. It can be a launchpad into regional markets while also offering a suitable environment for living and settling down. With more than 70,000 participants from over 160 countries at Web Summit Lisbon, we ensure that every meeting we hold here serves as the beginning of a practical process that will continue in Doha.

He added that the most recent edition of Web Summit Qatar achieved record-breaking numbers, attracting 30,274 participants from 127 countries, doubling the attendance in just two years. This included 1,637 startups, 247 of which were Qatari, and over 930 investors. This extensive participation has translated into a direct economic impact, with the summit’s direct and indirect returns exceeding QAR 1 billion, a 26 per cent increase over the previous edition, with a contribution of approximately QAR 661 million to the GDP.

Furthermore, he said that visitors spent an average of six days in the country, meaning that every participant attracted, whether from Lisbon or elsewhere, generated value that extended to the hospitality, transport, and tourism sectors.

In terms of business, he said that the Qatar Financial Center (QFC) received approximately 2,300 license applications during the four-day summit, compared to about 1,600 in the previous edition, with over 300 companies completing their registration procedures during the event itself.

The summit also saw the announcement of an expansion to the Qatar Investment Authority's Fund of Funds program, bringing its total commitments to USD 3 billion, as well as the launch of a 10-year residency program for entrepreneurs, founders, and senior executives.

He added that these results confirm that Web Summit Qatar has evolved beyond its role as a conference for networking and knowledge exchange and that it has become a platform where investment decisions are made and real businesses are launched. 

His Excellency added that the participation is guided by the principle that every encounter should lead to a practical next step, whether by introducing a relevant entity, arranging a meeting with a startup, or extending an invitation to Web Summit Qatar 2027.

In this spirit, he said, Companies House, launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to unify company registration and licensing in Qatar's economic zones, is taking part for the first time, allowing entrepreneurs to begin establishing their businesses right from Lisbon, rather than simply gathering information.

He added that a company’s decision to relocate to a new country is fundamentally tied to the relocation of its employees and their families.

His Excellency added that Qatar's pavilion features 97 interviews with individuals from 76 countries who moved to Qatar and successfully built their lives and careers there, with each sharing their personal experience in their own native language.

Furthermore, he said that "Ask Qatar" activation allows visitors to pose questions directly to people who live in the country and are well-acquainted with the realities of daily life there.

"We believe that the most authentic image of Qatar comes from those who have experienced it firsthand, and that these human stories complement the information we provide regarding business and investment opportunities," he said.

On investments, His Excellency said that Qatar offers a comprehensive business environment for companies and investors, built upon four key pillars: capital, regulatory environment, talent, and digital infrastructure.

Regarding capital, the Startup Qatar Investment Program, provided by Qatar Development Bank, offers eligible companies funding of up to USD 1.1 million at the launch stage and USD 5.5 million during the growth phase. The program has attracted over 10,000 applications from across the globe and has provided more than USD 100 million in funding to more than 50 startups.

Furthermore, Invest Qatar’s portal connects startups with 14 venture capital funds, a resource utilized by over 500 companies, in addition to a USD 1 billion investment incentive package launched by the agency.

As for the regulatory environment, QFC offers benefits such as up to 100 per cent foreign ownership, full repatriation of profits, and a competitive 10 per cent corporate tax rate on locally generated profits.

In terms of talent, a 10-year residency program for entrepreneurs, founders, and senior executives allows them to establish long-term roots in the country, while a robust digital infrastructure reinforces Qatar's position as an advanced hub for technology-driven businesses.

The country scored 98.4 out of 100 on the ICT Development Index 2026 issued by the International Telecommunication Union, the sixth-highest score among the 159 economies evaluated, including a perfect score of 100 in the Universal Connectivity pillar.

These strengths are complemented by an increasingly diversified economy, with non-hydrocarbon sectors now accounting for approximately 70 per cent of the GDP, up from 40 per cent in 2011. Furthermore, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, Qatar ranks first in the region and fourth globally in entrepreneurship. It also ranks second worldwide on Numbeo's 2026 Safety Index.

He added that what Qatar offers investors goes beyond a set of incentives to a comprehensive business environment built on solid foundations and measurable outcomes, providing a basis for long-term business growth.

His Excellency added that Qatar's presence in Lisbon serves a dual purpose: attracting companies to Qatar, while simultaneously opening new avenues for companies already based in Qatar to reach global markets. The four companies featured in the Startup Qatar pavilion this year represent the diversity of Qatari innovation, spanning sectors such as smart agriculture, AI agents, secure enterprise AI solutions, and workplace wellbeing. Two of these companies, Growa.Ai and Aligator, have already taken steps to enter the Saudi market with support from the Scale Now program under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The outcomes of the country's entrepreneurship support programs reflect the scale of this ecosystem. The TASMU Accelerator has supported 75 startups, 40 of which have registered their businesses in Qatar, while participating companies have generated over QAR 670 million in sales, with a total portfolio value exceeding QAR 4 billion. Furthermore, more than 521 startups have benefited from the Digital Incubation Center’s programs.

On the fourth edition of Web Summit Qatar, His Excellency said, "we are building upon the achievements of the previous three, aiming not merely to increase the event’s scale, but to deepen its economic and investment impact.

" Our focus is on fostering partnerships that evolve into concrete projects, securing investments that drive economic growth, and encouraging companies to choose Qatar as a hub for their operations and expansion. The summit will continue to prioritize sectors that are shaping the future of the global economy, such as artificial intelligence, fintech, energy, and government innovation, all of which align directly with Qatar's economic diversification priorities. (QNA)