Doha To Host Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2026
The four-day event will see entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders come to the capital of Qatar to forge partnerships, explore investment prospects, and scale ventures across borders.
Qatar's capital city of Doha shall host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) from September 21 to 24, 2026, an event jointly led by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), a global network connecting entrepreneurs and ecosystems in 200 countries, and the government-backed Qatar Development Bank.
GEC 2026, which was announced at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, will span over four days, and it is expected to attract over 3,000 participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, financial institutions, and public decision-makers from more than 200 countries and organizations, with a focus on investment, cross-border collaboration, sectoral innovation, and entrepreneurial growth.
As co-host, Qatar Development Bank will deliver the congress through Rowad, its national entrepreneurship and innovation platform. It will provide a stage for Qatar's startups, programs, and investment opportunities, creating opportunities for global participants to forge connections, work together, and grow their ventures.
In a statement, Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al-Sowaidi, CEO of Qatar Development Bank, said, “The State of Qatar is proud to welcome the global entrepreneurship ecosystem to Doha for GEC 2026. Hosting this landmark event underscores our commitment to accelerating entrepreneurial growth, serving as a catalyst for innovation, and positioning Doha as a dynamic global launchpad for pioneering ideas, transformative solutions, and cross-border collaboration. Through this partnership, we will work together to capitalize on shared values and explore new opportunities, bringing global innovators together to drive the next wave of entrepreneurial growth.”
Jonathan Ortmans, founder and President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, added, “Qatar brings together rare conditions: a clear strategic vision, recognized execution capabilities, and an international positioning that fosters dialogue and cooperation. GEC Doha 2026 continues to underscore the role of the Congress as a global reference platform, capable of generating structured collaboration and concrete outcomes for entrepreneurial ecosystems.”
Launched in 2009 by the Global Entrepreneurship Network, the GEC has been hosted in 13 countries spanning five continents. As one of the world's most expansive entrepreneurial networks, GEN connects a global community of over 2.24 million entrepreneurs and maintains more than 1,000 active partnerships.
Pictured in the lead image from left to right is Jonathan Ortmans, founder and President of GEN, and Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al-Sowaidi, CEO of Qatar Development Bank.
