Msheireb Properties and The Business Year announce return of Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference
Following the success of the inaugural edition held in January this year, the second edition will focus on advancing the Gulf region's startup landscape and expanding regional collaboration. The event will bring together senior government representatives, investors, and business leaders from Qatar, and the GCC region, with an emphasis on youth participation and emerging enterprises shaping the next phase of growth.
Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdulla, Senior Director of Corporate Communication at Msheireb Properties, said: 'Following the success of January's edition, we're pleased to welcome the event back to Msheireb Downtown Doha. As the district continues to establish itself not only as a centre for dialogue but also as a hub for business, culture, design, and technology, it offers a fitting setting for regional stakeholders to exchange ideas and shape future opportunities.'
'Furthermore, the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference has served as a meeting ground for investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to advance the GCC's economic diversification goals. The upcoming edition in November will provide another opportunity to deepen these conversations and expand regional collaboration,' he added.
Vanessa Rameix, Regional Director at The Business Year, said: 'While the world watches the GCC's economic transition, real change happens when boardrooms meet government offices. This is where Qatar's startup revolution gets its roadmap – not from oil barrels, but from the partnerships forged at events like this. This conference will highlight the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors to build an ecosystem that nurtures start-ups and accelerates business growth.'
This year's conference will adopt an entrepreneurs-driven format aimed at energising the region's emerging community. It will showcase how the GCC's burgeoning startup ecosystem can serve as a viable alternative to established global markets while capitalising on the unique advantages of each member country. It will also feature a live startup pitch competition, featuring emerging companies from across the GCC, alongside main panel discussions with industry leaders and policymakers.
The first panel titled 'Fostering Entrepreneurship and Driving Economic Growth in the GCC' will focus on how public and private sector initiatives can strengthen entrepreneurial activity across the GCC, with particular attention to public policies, and incentives that support emerging businesses. This is then followed by the second panel 'Financing the Future: GCC Investment Strategies and Policy Insights,' which will discuss funding mechanisms across the region, including venture capital, regulatory frameworks, and government-backed initiatives that seek to expand access to finance and improve market conditions.
About Msheireb Properties
Msheireb Properties, backed by Qatar Foundation and Qatar Investment Authority, is Qatar's leading sustainable real estate developer. The company has pioneered sustainable urban development in Qatar, supporting the goals of Qatar's 2030 Vision.
Its mission is to change how people think about urban living and improve their overall quality of life through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.
The signature Msheireb Downtown Doha development is one of the smartest, most sustainable city districts globally. It employs a new approach to urban planning by combining traditional methods and modern technology to preserve Qatar's environment and cultural identity. All buildings are either Gold or Platinum LEED-certified.
Msheireb Downtown Doha is an integrated city that embraces modern, fully furnished residential units, a range of mixed-use and commercial buildings that offer a wide array of retail and business services, and cultural facilities. It is also the home to Msheireb Museums, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Al Wadi Hotel - MGallery by AccorHotels, Park Hyatt Hotel, Msheireb Galleria, and Barahat Msheireb - the biggest open-air covered pedestrian square in the region.
The company also developed Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, the Middle East's first and largest wellness destination. Located in northern Qatar, the resort offers two distinct experiences: Zulal Serenity, a wellness haven for individuals and couples, and Zulal Discovery, a world-first wellness offering for families. The resort is pioneering in its integration of Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) with contemporary wellness practices.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
17 minutes ago
- Zawya
Qatar's digital payments hit $4.4bln in July: QCB
Doha: The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) reported strong growth in digital payments during July 2025, with a combined value of QR 16.133bn processed across 51.697 million transactions, according to figures the regulator published on its X platform yesterday. The data highlights the deepening role of electronic transactions in Qatar's financial system, spanning card payments, instant transfers, and mobile wallets. Card-based payments continued to dominate consumer spending, accounting for the majority of transactions and value. QCB's breakdown shows QR12.584bn worth of card activity during the month. Within this, point-of-sale (POS) transactions remained the backbone of retail spending, totaling QR8.221bn across 40.328 million transactions, while e-commerce activity reached QR4.363bn from 9.180 million online transactions. Together, POS and e-commerce accounted for more than three-quarters of all transactions processed during the month, underscoring both the resilience of in-store spending and the rapid rise of online commerce. Beyond card payments, Qatar's instant payment system, Fawran, demonstrated significant momentum. The platform handled QR3.272bn through 1.869 million transfers in July, supported by a growing base of 3.239 million registered accounts. Fawran is increasingly being used for real-time peer-to-peer transfers, utility bills, and government payments, reflecting its versatility as a payment rail complementing traditional card channels. The Qatar Mobile Payment (QMP) service also contributed to the digital ecosystem, recording QR277.052m in transaction value and 320,000 transactions during the month. While QMP's share of overall activity remains modest at just 2 percent, the platform now counts 1.2 million registered wallets, suggesting room for further adoption as merchant acceptance expands and consumer familiarity grows. A breakdown of the ecosystem by transaction volume illustrates the dominance of card payments. POS transactions made up 51 percent of total activity, e-commerce accounted for 27 percent, Fawran represented 20 percent, and QMP contributed 2 percent. Analysts note that while cards remain entrenched in everyday retail spending, the growing contribution of instant transfers signals shifting payment preferences among consumers seeking speed and convenience. The overall figures also emphasise the importance of non-card channels in Qatar's payment landscape. While card transactions totaled QR12.584bn, the wider system, including Fawran and QMP, pushed the total monthly value up to QR16.133bn. That gap highlights how instant transfers and mobile payments are filling specific use cases such as household bills, government services, and person-to-person payments. Industry observers say the QCB's latest snapshot provides timely insights into consumer behavior as Qatar continues to advance its national digital payments strategy. Strong card activity signals continued confidence in retail and e-commerce spending, while rising instant transfer volumes reflect progress in building fast, reliable, and inclusive infrastructure. QCB underscored that these trends mark steady progress toward its broader goals of financial inclusion and a cash-light economy. By publishing monthly figures on its official accounts, the regulator aims to provide both policymakers and industry stakeholders with real-time visibility into how the Qatari payments ecosystem is evolving. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arabian Business
30 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
India and China agree to restore flights and trade flow after minsiter Wang's visit
India and China – the two biggest countries in the world that comprise nearly 35 per cent of the planet's population – have agreed to resume direct flights and step up trade and investment flows as they look to rebuild the ties damaged by a border clash in 2020. The border talks covered issues related to pulling back troops both countries have amassed on their border and delimitation of borders and boundary affairs. There was no major breakthrough on those issues, but Beijing said both countries agreed to meet again in China in 2026. However, the two countries have agreed to resume direct flights – without setting up an exact date at the moment – and boost trade and investment, along with smooth facilitation of visas. Direct flights have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At the meeting of the Special Representatives between visiting Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, the two sides agreed to create an expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs to explore 'early harvest in boundary delimitation', and to set up another working group under the WMCC to 'advance effective border management' and maintain peace and tranquillity. The statement was issued after minister Wang's two-day visit to New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, posted on X about making steady progress after meeting Wang: 'Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities. I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity.' Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities. I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 19, 2025 Modi's scheduled visit to China at the end of August to take part in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will be his first to the country in more than seven years. A readout from the Chinese foreign ministry said Wang told Doval that 'the stable and healthy development of China-India relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries' people. The two sides should enhance mutual trust through dialogues and expand cooperation'.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
NTT DATA appoints Muhannad Khattab as UAE Country Manager
Dubai, UAE: NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and IT services, today announced the appointment of Muhannad Khattab as Country Manager for the United Arab Emirates. This strategic appointment underscores NTT DATA's commitment to driving innovation, enhancing customer experience, and accelerating technology advancement across the UAE's public and private sectors. This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the UAE, as the country accelerates its journey to become one of the world's most advanced digital economies. With record investments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud initiatives, the UAE is cementing its role as a global hub for next-generation technologies. NTT DATA's decision to appoint a dedicated Country Manager reflects its commitment to deepen its presence, align with the UAE's national agenda, and bring global innovation to local clients at a time when the demand for secure, AI-enabled, and scalable solutions is surging. 'We are delighted to welcome Muhannad Khattab to our Middle East leadership team,' said Burcak Soydan, Managing Executive for the Middle East at NTT DATA. 'His deep understanding of the UAE ICT sector, coupled with his proven track record in delivering large-scale technology advancement projects and building high-performance teams, will be a significant asset to our regional growth.' With over 20 years of experience in digital infrastructure, IT sales, cybersecurity, and AI solutions, Muhannad is a seasoned technology executive. Prior to joining NTT DATA, he held senior leadership roles at Gulf Business Machines (GBM), most recently serving as Director of Technology in the UAE. Commenting on his appointment, Muhannad Khattab said, 'I am honored to join NTT DATA at such an exciting time, as we continue to expand our technology and service capabilities in the UAE. I look forward to working closely with our talented team, partners, and clients to drive innovation, deliver impactful results, and align with the UAE's vision to be among the world's most advanced digital economies. The country's ambitious ICT agenda, spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud adoption, and smart city innovation, sets a powerful stage for NTT DATA to contribute meaningfully to its journey, positioning the UAE as a global hub for next-generation technologies and future-ready talent.' About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future.
