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As the world’s largest event series dedicated to technology and innovation comes to Doha for the third time, Qatar Foundation and Web Summit have unveiled a new partnership with volunteerism, research, education, and the sharing of knowledge at its core.
The opening day of Web Summit Qatar 2026 – which has drawn over 30,000 members of the global tech entrepreneurship and investment community, alongside business and cultural leaders and policymakers, to Qatar to connect, form partnerships, and discuss the tech trends shaping the world – saw the signing of a three-year collaboration agreement that reflects Qatar Foundation (QF) and Web Summit’s collective belief in empowering and inspiring drivers of positive change.
Signed as Web Summit Qatar 2026 got under way at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, the agreement will provide Qatar Foundation (QF) students and alumni with real-world volunteering experience and access to Web Summit’s Volunteer Programme, which connects them to global innovation communities and opens up worldwide networking opportunities with tech founders, investors, and experts.
QF and Web Summit will also collaborate to study the economic, social, and technological impact of Web Summit Qatar, and of QF’s involvement in the event, as it showcases to the world the Middle East’s rising status as a hub of, and destination for, technology development.
Yousif Al-Naama, CEO of Qatar Foundation, said: “Volunteerism and human-centric innovation share the purpose of contributing to the growth, strength, and wellbeing of individuals and communities, and through this collaboration agreement, Qatar Foundation and Web Summit are bringing them together with the goal of deepening our nation’s technology talent pool, empowering our youth, and benefiting our society.
“By collaborating with such a dynamic global organization as Web Summit, we are extending the opportunities for exposure to the world of technology innovation and entrepreneurship that we offer our current students and our ever-growing alumni community. The access to networks of knowledge and expertise, and the experiences they will gain, through being part of Web Summit’s Volunteer Programme will undoubtedly enrich their skills, expand their horizons, and magnify the impact they can bring to Qatar, the region, and the world.
“We are delighted to join forces with Web Summit through this multifaceted agreement that supports our Qatar Foundation ecosystem in driving forward innovation for human and social benefit, and in empowering our youth to be the leaders and drivers of positive change.”
Paddy Cosgrave, founder and CEO at Web Summit, said: “This partnership between Web Summit and Qatar Foundation doesn’t just connect talent from the region to global tech ecosystems. It opens pathways in Doha, home to Web Summit Qatar, and in Lisbon, Rio, and Vancouver, bringing together two organizations that believe in fostering talent and ambition, and in connecting some of the brightest minds with opportunities.
“Through this partnership, hundreds of Qatar Foundation students and alumni will have access to every opportunity Web Summit has to offer on the volunteer programme, working alongside founders, investors, and speakers to grow their network and experience at pivotal moments in their careers. We have seen volunteers go on to build companies and return as founders. That journey, from learning to doing to building, is exactly what we want to enable.
“Qatar Foundation has built a world-class platform for education, research, and innovation, backing the next generation to push boundaries. We are proud to be undertaking this journey with Qatar Foundation.”
The collaboration will enable Web Summit Qatar’s international attendees to visit and gain insight into QF’s unique ecosystem of knowledge, and how its Education City campus integrates education, research and innovation, and inclusive community development platforms and opportunities. Academic collaborations – potentially including joint initiatives such as the Web Summit Academic Bursary Programme, which attracts leading academics and researchers to Web Summit events – and the expanded participation of experts from the QF community on Web Summit platforms also form part of the agreement.
Web Summit Qatar 2026 has welcomed attendees from over 120 countries, including over 900 investors, and is showcasing more than 1,600 technology startups from around the world. Taking place until 4 February, it places a major focus on key topics surrounding Artificial Intelligence, with expert-led conversations exploring how its development is being steered and what this means for the future of jobs.
The summit is also examining how technology is reimagining the way in which content is created, shared, and consumed, the progress of quantum computing toward commercial adoption, and technology advancements in sectors such as finance, energy, health, manufacturing, and government. QF’s Qatar Science & Technology Park, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, the World Innovation Summit for Health, and WISE are among those participating at Web Summit Qatar 2026.