MWC 25 Doha: Qatar Hosts MENA’s First Mobile World Congress

Doha, Qatar - Qatar will host the first Middle East edition of Mobile World Congress on 25–26 November 2025 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). Organised by the GSMA in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the event marks the expansion of the MWC series into the region and is positioned as a multi-stakeholder platform for policy, investment and technology collaboration.

National Strategy Alignment

MWC25 Doha aligns with two cornerstone policies: Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Digital Agenda 2030. Both frameworks prioritise advanced digital infrastructure, skills, and services to accelerate a knowledge-based economy; areas that MWC programming explicitly supports through connectivity, AI, data infrastructure and smart-city tracks. 

What to Expect at the Event

• Scale & Audience: The organiser indicates 200+ exhibitors and attendance from 60+ countries, reinforcing Doha’s role as a new regional meeting point for global connectivity stakeholders.
• 4YFN (Four Years From Now): MWC’s official startup platform will run in Doha, connecting founders with investors and corporates and bringing the brand’s long-running startup marketplace to MENA for the first time.
• GSMA Ministerial Programme: Policymakers from the region and beyond will convene for closed-door and public sessions focused on digital access, inclusion, spectrum, and investment frameworks.
• Digital Leaders Programme: An invite-only forum; previously in Barcelona and Shanghai—arrives in MENA to connect regional industry with the global ecosystem around AI and next-gen networks. 
  
• 5G Future Summit: A dedicated summit explores 5G-Advanced trajectories and early 6G outlooks, complementing the connectivity-first agenda. 

Why Doha—and Why Now

The GSMA’s decision follows announcement milestones earlier this year and builds on the momentum of MWC’s global circuit (Barcelona, Shanghai, Las Vegas, Kigali). Doha’s debut reflects MENA’s rising profile in digital transformation and provides a neutral, global-grade platform for operators, hyperscalers, device makers, infrastructure firms and regulators to shape markets and standards from the region. (

Regional Significance

By anchoring a flagship connectivity event in the Gulf, MWC25 Doha concentrates policy dialogue, deal-making and technology showcases in a single venue. Organiser materials highlight themes including AI, data infrastructure, 5G/advanced networks, cybersecurity, fintech, smart mobility, IoT, and intelligent economies, aligning closely with regional diversification agendas. 

Implications for Qatar’s Startup & Innovation Ecosystem

For local founders and funds, the co-located 4YFN marketplace offers access to international investors, corporate scouts and pilot opportunities. The presence of the Ministerial Programme and Digital Leaders Programme in Doha also shortens the distance between startups, regulators and enterprise buyers, potentially accelerating proofs-of-concept in AI, fintech, smart-city/IoT, and industry digitalisation—all priority areas within Qatar’s Digital Agenda 2030. 

Outlook

As the first MWC in MENA, the Doha edition is set to become a recurring regional anchor for connectivity and digital policy. Its success will be measured not only in footfall, but in long-term partnerships, ecosystem maturity and tangible progress toward Qatar’s Vision 2030 goals.