Qatar`s Web Summit 2025 witnessed a record-breaking 25,747 attendees from 124 countries, marking the event as the premier startup gathering in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), the summit also attracted 1,520 startups and 723 investors, a remarkable increase of over 10,000 participants compared to last year. Diversity is continually an important focus of the Web Summit Qatar and 47% of the participating startups were women-founded—an impressive 51% increase from 2024. Women also accounted for 37% of the event’s attendees, reflecting the event’s commitment to promote inclusion.
Worlds Top Technology Companies Represented
Moreover, the summit’s global impact was also highlighted by 168 partners from around the world. This included top-tier companies like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, IBM, TikTok, Snap, iHeart, Cloudflare and Huawei. Significantly, these major industry players shared their latest innovations alongside early-stage startups, creating invaluable opportunities for networking and investment. In addition, the event attracted investors seeking to tap into the rapidly expanding MENA tech ecosystem.
Notably, the Web Summit Qatar 2025 featured 381 thought leaders who discussed issues including artificial intelligence (AI), global policy and climate change. Over 120 curated meetups were held using the Web Summit’s proprietary Summit Engine, an AI-powered platform that helped attendees connect based on shared interests.
AI Emerges As Leading StartUp Sector
Interestingly, AI emerged as the leading startup sector, representing 17% of participants, followed by SaaS, Healthtech & Wellness, Fintech, and Education. Of the 1,520 startups, 228 were Qatar based. The event witnessed 723 investors exploring business opportunities in the region, further strengthening Qatar’s position as a hub for innovation.
Importantly, since the 2024 event, 82 startups from the Web Summit’s Startups Programme raised QAR 436.8 million (USD120 million). Such fundraising demonstrates the summit’s significant impact on fostering growth within the MENA region’s tech landscape.
Qatar Supportive of New Businesses
Soutien Group offers a network of experts and specialists within the lifecycle of a business. We can offer expertise in Market Research and Assessment Qatar, Qatar Business Case, Qatar Business Model Development. Feasibility Study and Business Plan Qatar, Organizational and Operational Structuring Qatar, Qatar Sponsorship and Partnership, Company Formation Qatar among others.
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