QFC records 44% surge in licensing applications at Web Summit Qatar 2026

Doha, Qatar - The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) reported a significant increase in business set-up demand during Web Summit Qatar 2026, with licensing applications rising by 44% compared to the previous year. QFC said it received more than 2,300 applications during the event, up from about 1,600 in 2025, reflecting growing interest from companies exploring Qatar as a base for regional and global expansion.

Key Numbers from the Summit

QFC’s event performance was reflected not only in application volume but also in companies moving forward with registration:

• More than 2,300 licensing applications submitted during Web Summit Qatar 2026
• More than 300 companies completed registration on QFC’s platform during the event
• Local coverage also referenced 315 firms already licensed and a broader pipeline progressing through qualification stages

What Types of Firms are Applying

According to QFC, applications during the summit were concentrated in sectors aligned with Qatar’s innovation and services economy, including:

• digital transformation
  
• fintech
• consulting services
• project management
• innovation-led activities

Incentives that Helped Drive Demand

QFC linked part of the surge to an incentives package promoted during Web Summit Qatar 2026, including:

• Waived registration and annual renewal fees for the first three years
  
• Incentives positioned to support early-stage growth and longer-term sustainability

Streamlined setup via on-site support

A practical factor behind the spike was on-the-ground enablement during the summit. QFC highlighted that government entities were present to support key steps in the setup journey, and that banking partners also supported onboarding to help businesses move faster from interest to operations.

MoUs signed during Web Summit Qatar 2026

QFC also said it used the summit to deepen ecosystem partnerships through several memoranda of understanding, spanning emerging tech, sports industry development, insurance/risk solutions, financial services, and academic collaboration.

Why this matters

The 44% jump is a signal of strengthening deal flow at a time when Qatar is actively positioning itself as a hub for high-growth companies and innovation-led activity. If the pipeline continues converting into licensed entities that hire locally, partner with Qatari institutions, and scale in priority sectors like fintech and digital transformation, the summit-driven surge could translate into longer-term ecosystem impact.