At the opening of the World Economic Forum, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) confirmed that Doha will host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) from 21 to 24 September 2026.
The event, branded Global Entrepreneurship Congress Doha 2026, will be co-hosted by GEN and QDB. It aims to strengthen the role of the Congress as a global platform for cooperation, investment, and business growth. GEN connects more than 2.24 million entrepreneurs through over 1,000 active partnerships worldwide.
The Congress will feature Rowad, Qatar’s national entrepreneurship and innovation platform. Rowad will present local programmes, startups, and investment opportunities to a global audience.
Qatar is positioning itself as a hub for economic development and entrepreneurship. Doha continues to shape an innovation-led economy where startups play a key role in attracting investment and driving institutional change.
A global platform focused on action
GEC Doha 2026 will welcome more than 3,000 entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, banks, and public sector decision-makers. Participants will come from over 200 countries and organisations.
Across four days, the Congress will focus on turning discussion into action. Key themes include investment, cross-border partnerships, sector innovation, startup growth, and pro-business public policy.
“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,”
said Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al-Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank.
As host and co-organiser, QDB will deliver GEC 2026 through Rowad. The platform will help startups, investors, and ecosystem partners connect, work together, and scale their ventures.
Global Entrepreneurship Network and its role
The Global Entrepreneurship Congress was launched by GEN in 2009. GEN operates in more than 200 countries and territories and remains one of the world’s largest entrepreneurship networks. It has co-hosted the Congress in 13 countries across five continents.
“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,”
said Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network.
Event delivery partner
PublicisLive will lead the design and delivery of GEC Doha 2026. The agency has experience in producing major global platforms, including the World Economic Forum.
PublicisLive works with governments and institutions to create long-term dialogue platforms. Its role will focus on stakeholder engagement, quality interaction, and delivering lasting outcomes for the global entrepreneurship community.
