Doha, February 09 (QNA) - Qatar Development Bank has released the fifth edition of its annual Venture Investment Report 2024, in collaboration with MAGNiTT Research. The publication is part of QDB's ongoing commitment to supporting Qatar's investment sector and strengthening its foundations. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of Qatar's investment landscape, enhances transparency, and offers access to data on the venture capital industry including the activities of investment funds that foster entrepreneurship and bolster the contribution of the private sector to Qatar's economic growth.

Commenting on the report's significance, Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al Sowaidi, CEO of QDB, said Qatar Development Bank remains at the forefront of enabling venture capital investments in Qatar, marking a nine-year journey of support for the industry. "As we review the data presented in this report, we recognize the important role we play in empowering Qatar's entrepreneurship ecosystem. We are proud of the sector's growth, particularly with the increasing participation of private and international investors, who now account for more than 50 percent of total investments. We also emphasize the importance of solid future planning and pursue our efforts to attract investors to tap innovative projects, which would boost venture capital investments in Qatar, especially in key clusters aligned with the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030." "Our goal at this stage is to expand the base of investors and funds in Qatar. To this end, we have launched several pioneering regional initiatives, including the Startup Qatar Investment Program under the umbrella of Startup Qatar, a platform unveiled by the Investment Promotion Agency (Invest Qatar) last year, the Arab Entrepreneurs Investment Program, and the Partial Guarantee program, all aimed at boosting investment and supporting the private sector," Al Sowaidi explained.

Philip Bahoshy, CEO and Founder of MAGNiTT, said his organization was pleased to publish its annual report in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank. "Over the past year, Qatar has seen remarkable growth, with notable events such as the Web Summit and the launch of the new fund of funds. Additionally, the emergence of several venture capital funds in the country has fostered positive momentum, with transactions increasing by 24 percent year-on-year." This year's report underscores Qatar's growing role as an attractive investment hub in the Middle East and North Africa, with the number of venture capital deals in the country increasing by 24 percent year-on-year in 2024. The total value of deals reached QAR 115 million, marking a significant 135 percent increase in direct investment despite a slowdown in venture capital investments across the region and challenges in the broader investment landscape. Qatar bucked the trend, ranking fourth in the MENA with 5 percent of the region's total deals in 2024. QDB's investment arm also ranked fourth in the region among the most active investors in terms of the number of deals, affirming Qatar's leadership in the investment sector and solidifying its position as a hub for innovation. Additionally, Qatar ranked sixth for venture funding in the region in 2024, four times its share in 2023.

The report also underscores fintech as the leading sector in Qatar, accounting for 29 percent of deals in 2024, an increase of 12 percent from 2023, highlighting the success of initiatives driven by QDB's Qatar FinTech Hub. QDB remains dedicated to strengthening the venture investment landscape by collaborating with partners in Qatar and the region through the Qatar FinTech Hub, fostering investments, attracting innovative startups to establish their businesses locally, and developing products that enhance private sector participation in venture capital. (QNA)