(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organizing Committee has continued its preparations for the third edition of Web Summit Qatar (WSQ), to be held in early February 2026.
During its regular meeting, the committee reviewed the latest updates related to the global event, including confirmed speakers, strategic international partnerships and the attraction of global trade delegations.
The meeting also discussed the outcomes of Qatar's participation at Web Summit Lisbon 2025, which concluded last week.
The Qatari delegation presented a comprehensive showcase of investment opportunities and national initiatives supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, reaffirming the nation's standing as a leading destination for technology and innovation.
In this regard, Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organizing Committee Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani said: "We are committed to strengthening Web Summit Qatar's position by enabling startups and investors, and providing an ideal platform for the exchange of ideas and for shaping the future digital economy regionally and globally."
"We continue to see growing momentum for Web Summit Qatar every year. This was evident during our participation in Web Summit Lisbon, where the Startup Qatar pavilion attracted strong interest from global stakeholders. This confidence inspires us to deliver an exceptional edition that surpasses expectations next year," he added.
The committee confirmed during the meeting that IBM will be the official artificial intelligence partner for Web Summit Qatar 2026. It also announced the launch of the IBM Sports Tech Challenge at Web Summit, a competition designed to spotlight startups developing enterprise-grade sports technology and AI solutions. The first stage of the competition will take place at Web Summit Qatar 2026, followed by regional rounds at Web Summit's global events, before concluding with the finals at Web Summit Lisbon 2026.
The initiative allows participating startups to receive expert mentorship, gain international visibility and compete for a paid proof of concept valued at up to USD 100,000, along with evaluation for venture funding to support future growth.
The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organizing Committee also announced a new group of high-profile global figures confirmed to participate in the summit. The committee also provided an update on partners, noting that the total number has now reached 119. The committee also confirmed the participation of new trade delegations, including those from Turkiye and Switzerland.
On the media front, the committee highlighted a new group of media professionals who will moderate summit sessions. The Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organizing committee continues its efforts to attract additional participants, investors and partners to ensure a high-impact global edition that reinforces Qatar's position in the digital economy sector.

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