Doha, February 03 (QNA) - Qatar is stepping up efforts to position itself as a regional hub for start-ups and venture capital, as Doha is hosting Web Summit Qatar 2026, according to the chief executive of Qatar Development Bank (QDB).

Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al Sowaidi said the summit has become a key platform for attracting global technology companies to the country, with the number of participating firms continuing to grow each year. Around 1,600 start-ups are taking part in the current edition, most of them operating in advanced technology and artificial intelligence.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Sowaidi said many of these companies have already chosen to establish operations in Qatar since the summit was first announced, reflecting what he described as a strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He highlighted recent government measures aimed at accelerating this momentum, including the expansion of the Qatar Investment Authority's fund-of-funds program. An additional $2 billion in funding has been allocated, bringing the total size of the program to $3 billion (around QR 11 billion), a move officials say will help attract international investment funds to the country.

The announcement was made during the opening speech of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.

Al Sowaidi added that QDB's flagship investment initiative, Startup Qatar, will also undergo both quantitative and qualitative expansion in the coming years. The program's target portfolio size is set to reach QR 1 billion, up from its current level.

So far, the initiative has invested nearly QR 150 million in more than 40 start-ups from 15 countries, all of which have localized their operations in Qatar.

Technology start-ups often face difficulties securing financing due to high risk and long development cycles, Al Sowaidi noted, underscoring the importance of specialized venture capital funds. Since its launch, QDB's investment arm has committed around QR 390 million in direct and indirect venture investments.

Alongside Web Summit Qatar 2026, QDB released its annual venture capital report for 2025 in partnership with research platform MAGNiTT.

The report points to significant progress in Qatar's venture capital market, including a sharp rise in private sector and international investor participation.

Private and foreign investors accounted for 86% of total venture capital investment in Qatar in 2025, exceeding the 70% target set for 2030 under the country's Third National Development Strategy.

Qatar ranked fourth in the Middle East and North Africa region in terms of both deal count and investment value, capturing 5% of total regional venture capital transactions. Total VC investment reached QR 214 million in 2025, an 81% increase compared with the previous year.

Al Sowaidi said the results reflect coordinated national efforts, including access to funding, the attraction of global investment funds, increased private sector participation, and the expansion of angel investor networks through training programs.

All of these initiatives, he added, are aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and build a sustainable, knowledge-based future. (QNA)