Doha:HE Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai announced that Qatar is advancing its digital economy by building on knowledge and innovation. The efforts include investments in digital infrastructure, developing national talent, promoting artificial intelligence adoption, and establishing trust and responsible governance. These initiatives support the objectives outlined in Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the Digital Agenda 2030.
According to Qatar News Agency, Minister Al Mannai made these remarks during the opening session of “Investing in AI for an Inclusive Digital Future” at the 9th World Investment Forum 2026. Hosted by Qatar in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from October 25-27, the forum operates under the theme “Investing in the Future.” The Minister praised the UNCTAD partnership and highlighted the significance of investing in future technologies to promote sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Minister Al Mannai emphasized that AI is a major influence on global capital direction, given the rapid growth of digital infrastructure and data center investments. He identified the main challenge for governments as transforming these investments into sustainable national capabilities, economic opportunities, and services to improve quality of life.
He detailed Qatar’s integrated approach to strengthening its digital economy through four key pillars. The first pillar involves investing in sovereign, scalable digital infrastructure, exemplified by a USD 20 billion partnership with Brookfield to develop AI infrastructure enhancing regional high-performance computing. The second pillar focuses on investing in people and developing digital skills, with Qatar aiming to provide over 50,000 training opportunities in digital fields and AI by 2030.
The third pillar involves accelerating technology adoption and entrepreneurship by developing AI use cases within the government sector and supporting companies and startups with a QR 6 billion incentive package. The fourth pillar emphasizes building trust through responsible AI governance, advocating for human rights and oversight in AI development.
Minister Al Mannai also highlighted Qatar’s support for AI governance frameworks that consider global linguistic and cultural diversity, ensuring fair and inclusive access to modern technologies. He concluded by stressing the importance of international partnerships for AI’s future and Qatar’s role as a cooperation bridge to transform investments into sustainable opportunities for development and prosperity.