The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee convened with Web Summit leadership in Dublin to advance preparations for the 2026 edition as one of the Middle East and North Africa's largest technology events, which will take place from Feb. 1-4, 2026, in Doha.The meeting was chaired by HE Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor al-Thani. The session brought together committee members, including representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with key stakeholders from the Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar Airways. Also in attendance were Web Summit Founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave and members of the summit's leadership team.The committee conducted a comprehensive review of the second edition, held in February 2025, establishing strategic priorities for the upcoming summit. Discussions centred on initiatives designed to strengthen the event's regional and global prominence while maximising its contributions to Qatar's National Vision."Web Summit has become a cornerstone of Qatar's journey towards establishing a robust knowledge-based economy and cementing our position as a global innovation hub," HE Sheikh Jassim stated in his opening address. "This event has served as a catalyst for strategic partnerships, entrepreneurial empowerment, and digital transformation, aligning seamlessly with the goals outlined in our Third National Development Strategy."HE Sheikh Jassim added: "Our planning sessions are focused on delivering a clear roadmap for continued summit growth. This includes enhancing content quality, attracting high-impact speakers, expanding international participation, and delivering broader economic and cultural impact." HE Sheikh Jassim also noted that the record turnout in the 2025 edition, which featured more than 25,000 attendees, marking a 67% increase from the inaugural event, reflects growing interest in Web Summit Qatar and reinforces its stature across the region. He emphasised that this momentum sets a high bar for delivering an exceptional 2026 edition next year.His Excellency reiterated the GCO's ongoing efforts to position the summit as a transformative platform that strengthens Qatar's role on the global innovation map and supports national development through the adoption of international best practices and full use of the country’s unique strengths.The Web Summit team presented insights on the event's economic impact across host cities, including Doha. According to their findings, the event contributed to the growth of local startups, supported job creation and helped Qatar climb 14 places in global startup ecosystem rankings. The team projects that 30,000 participants will attend Web Summit Qatar 2026.Hosting Web Summit Qatar has delivered measurable results, advancing key strategic objectives while reinforcing Qatar's emergence as a leading global destination for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.Web Summit Qatar positions Doha as a key destination for innovators, investors, and industry leaders. The event provides a forum for international dialogue on digital economy developments, supporting Qatar's efforts to build global partnerships in technology and entrepreneurship as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030.Founded in Dublin in 2009, Web Summit is the world's largest technology event, drawing over one million attendees globally through flagship events in Doha, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, and Vancouver. (ICE Doha)

Fonte notizia: GULF TIMES