Qatar University and QDB Celebrate Al-Fikra 2025 Winners

Doha, Qatar – Qatar University (QU), in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), successfully concluded the 2025 edition of the Al-Fikra National Entrepreneurship Competition for Higher Education. Organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Business and Economics, the initiative aims to empower university students across Qatar to develop innovative business ideas and transform them into scalable startups. The competition is part of broader efforts to advance Qatar’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, aligning closely with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Purpose and Organization

The Al-Fikra National Entrepreneurship Competition is regarded as a leading platform for identifying and supporting creative entrepreneurial talents. By providing university students with an opportunity to nurture their ideas into viable projects, the competition plays a key role in building a sustainable and innovation-driven national economy. This year’s edition saw the participation of eight universities, with a total of 409 applications submitted. From these, 141 applications representing 117 teams qualified for the final stages.

Key Remarks at the Closing Ceremony

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Professor Ibrahim Al Kaabi, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Qatar University, emphasized that Al-Fikra goes beyond a traditional business competition. He described it as an inspiring environment that enables students to develop practical, applicable solutions while fostering innovative thinking. He reiterated Qatar University’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship as a means to shape a more sustainable and dynamic future for the nation. Professor Al Kaabi also expressed his gratitude to Qatar Development Bank for its strategic support in realizing the program’s objectives.

Dr. Khalid Al Hashmi, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Business and Economics, praised the ongoing collaboration with Qatar Development Bank. He highlighted the competition as a launchpad for a new generation of leaders and innovators who will drive future economic and social progress.

Khalid Abdulla Al Mana, Vice President of Enterprise Development and Executive Director of Qatar Exports at QDB, reaffirmed the bank’s ongoing commitment to promoting innovation and supporting the development of entrepreneurial ventures and small and medium-sized enterprises, in line with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy.

Winners of the Competition

At the conclusion of the event, the winning teams were announced and recognized for presenting outstanding and promising ideas. The winners were:

• First Place: "Noor" project from Qatar University – awarded QR 20,000  
• Second Place: "GloVoice" project from Qatar University – awarded QR 15,000 
• Third Place: "Stay Mobile" project from the University of Doha for Science and Technology – awarded QR 10,000  

Al-Fikra National Entrepreneurship Competition continues to play a vital role in strengthening Qatar’s entrepreneurial landscape. By empowering young innovators and providing them with critical resources and guidance, the initiative supports the creation of a vibrant startup ecosystem that will contribute significantly to the nation's long-term economic diversification and growth.