The conference opened with a spotlight on how the Gulf states are repositioning their startup policies and funding instruments. A high-level panel titled “Fostering Entrepreneurship & Driving Economic Growth in the GCC” included Rama Chakaki, President of the Qatar Science & Technology Park, H. E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology & Innovation Park, and Khaula Al Kharty, CEO of Injaz Oman, moderated by Vanessa Rameix, Regional Director at The Business Year. Their discussion emphasised how regulatory reform, cross-border collaboration and founder support structures are advancing in parallel to national economic strategies.
A second major session, “Financing the Future: GCC Investment Strategies & Policy Insights”, featured Mohammed Alzubi of Nama Ventures, Abdulrahman AlJiffry of 500 Global and Dr Mohammed Al-Housani of the Qatar Research, Development & Innovation Council, exploring how venture capital, private equity and government-backed instruments are adapting to fund Series A-C startups in the region. The dialogue pointed to increased availability of high-risk capital, alongside government initiatives that reduce regulatory friction and incentivise venture creation.
One of the flagship moments of the conference was the “AI for Good Innovation Challenge”, a pitch competition involving ten pre-qualified startups presenting sustainable technology solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The winner, CLARRIO, secured fast-track access to accelerator programmes and entry to the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, underlining how Gulf-based events are offering international visibility for local ventures.
The event underscored several emerging trends shaping the startup ecosystem in the Gulf. First, there is a visible shift from petro-reliant models towards knowledge economy strategies, with innovation hubs and incubators proliferating around Doha, Sharjah, Riyadh and Muscat. Second, allocation of growth capital is taking on a regional flavour, with funds earmarked specifically to support technology, sustainability and digital services. For instance, the Qatar Investment Authority has moved to evaluate additional venture capital firms for inclusion in its “fund of funds” programme to close Series A-C funding gaps. Third, there is a growing emphasis on cross-jurisdictional investor-founder alignment: Gulf governments are offering incentives and visa support, while institutional funds are establishing regional offices to access the local ecosystem.
Participants also addressed persistent challenges. Talent shortages remain a concern, with founders citing difficulties in attracting experienced tech staff and executives. Regulatory fragmentation across countries continues to complicate scaling across borders—funding frameworks, labour laws and intellectual-property regimes vary widely across GCC states. Funding remains early-stage heavy, with fewer later-stage exits within the region, meaning founders often still look abroad for growth capital or acquisition. Another point raised was that although public-sector participation in venture ecosystems has grown, questions remain about ensuring commercial returns and avoiding sectoral bubbles. One panellist noted that startup ecosystems mature when founder-led-firms become return-generating and reinvest in the next generation.
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