The full programme has been released for the ‘Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference: Driving GCC Entrepreneurial Growth’, which will take place on 3 November 2025. Organised by The Business Year in collaboration with Msheireb Properties, the event will be held at Barahat Msheireb in Doha. The conference, held in a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), aims to connect policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the Gulf region.
Conference Agenda and Key Sessions
The day will begin at 2pm with a pre-event ‘Insight Session’ at HEC Paris, Doha, facilitated by its dean, Dr Pablo Martin de Holan. Titled ‘The Architecture of AI: Energy, Capex, and Capability’, the two-hour discussion will address the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence for businesses and national economies. This focus on AI reflects a growing regional trend, as seen when the UAE President issues resolution reconstituting AI and Advanced Technology Council.
The session will include a panel of experts featuring Dr Fadi Nasser of MEEZA, Nouf Almarri of the Civil Services and Government Development Bureau, Engineer Sarah al-Mawlawi of Ooredoo Qatar, and Aysha al-Mudahka from the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI).
The main conference starts at 4:30pm with a keynote speech by Nejoud al-Jehani, executive director of Strategy and Programmes at QRDI. This will be followed by two panel discussions focusing on the GCC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Fostering Regional Entrepreneurship
The first panel, ‘Fostering Entrepreneurship and Driving Economic Growth in the GCC’, will examine how public policy and cross-border collaboration can support business creation. Moderated by Vanessa Rameix, regional director at The Business Year, the discussion will feature several prominent figures, including Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), and Hussain al-Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP). They will be joined by Rama Chakaki, president of Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), and Fahad al-Sharekh, founder of TechInvest. The panel’s focus aligns with a broader trend of why entrepreneurs are expanding their business to the UAE and other Gulf nations.
Investment and Funding Strategies
The second panel, titled ‘Financing the Future: GCC Investment Strategies & Policy Insights’, will address the evolution of venture capital, private equity, and government funding. Moderated by Sophia Swire, founder of GEDI, the panel includes Mohammed Alzubi of Nama Ventures, Abdulrahman al-Jiffry of 500 Global, Steve Khayat of Phoenix Venture Partners, and Dr Mohammed al-Housani of QRDI.
AI for Good Startup Challenge
A central feature of the event is the ‘AI for Good Qatar Challenge’, which invites pre-seed and seed-stage startups from the GCC to present AI-driven solutions for global challenges linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ten pre-qualified startups will pitch their ideas live on stage to a panel of judges from organisations including Builders VC, Plug and Play, and Alchemist Doha.
The winning startup will receive an opportunity to attend the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva and gain fast-track access to local and international accelerator programmes. This initiative complements other local efforts where the Qatar Foundation empowers students to transform ideas into innovative solutions at hackathon event.
Dr Hafiz Ali Abdulla, senior director of Corporate Communication at Msheireb Properties, stated, “This comprehensive conference aligns perfectly with our vision of creating dynamic urban spaces that inspire progress and cooperation.” Rameix added that the challenge “represents a critical step in connecting Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with global innovation networks.”
