IBC in Qatar and the American University for Arab Scientists and Investors organised the Doha Summit for Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurship 2026 in cooperation with Katara Cultural Village Foundation, under the patronage of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, on 22 and 23 January 2026 in Katara’s Hall 15.
The summit was held under the patronage of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of Al Faisal Holding, who attended in person. Eng Mohsen Al-Ajji, chairman of IBC in Qatar, served as the summit’s secretary-general; Dr Siham Al-Bayati, president of the American University for Arab Scientists and Investors, chaired the summit; and Dr Abdul Karim Al-Asfour, IBC’s vice chairman, chaired the summit’s Higher Authority.
The organising committee included Dr Khamis Al-Ajmi as general advisor, Dr Rana Hussein Hotayt as executive supervisor, Dr Majed Khaled Aaraj as media spokesperson, Dr Sheikha Al-Khater as media advisor, Dr Khaled Abdel Fattah El Sayed Mohamed chairing the media committee, Dr Hisham Kadi chairing the organising committee, Dr Sheikha Al-Kubaisi chairing the coordination committee, Prof Sami Ibrahim Jaafar Al-Rubaie chairing the scientific committee, Captain Rabih Mustafa Baalbaki chairing the scholars and innovators committee, Dr Inaam Al-Shihabi chairing the recommendations committee, Dr Rana Abou Dhaher chairing public relations and protocol, and Kamal Henchiri chairing logistics.
Sessions covered innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship, the green economy, digital transformation, the role of SMEs, economic empowerment of youth and women, and bridging investors with innovators, within a research track that received abstracts through November 2025 and full papers through December 2025. The summit honoured Dr Essam Al-Badri, president of the European Organisation for Academic and Cultural Exchange (OEAEC), from Brussels.
Al Shabaka Mubasher, Sayidat wa Aamal, znn and Wakalat Al-Hadath covered the summit, and Al-Mughtarib Channel produced a series of video interviews with its organisers and participants. Organisers described the summit as an important conference for developing relationships and tracking sustainable development, and as an international event affirming Qatar’s position as a regional and global hub for innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Topic and programme
- Innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship
- Green economy
- Digital transformation
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Economic empowerment of youth and women
- Cooperation between investors and innovators
- 22/01 · 10:00Opening of the Doha Summit
Participants and their capacities
Speakers
- Dr. Ambassador Abdul-Karim Al-AsfoorChair of the Higher Authority; IBC vice chairman · International Business Council
- Dr Siham Al-BayatiSummit chair; president, USA International University · USA International University
- Dr. Eng. Mohsen bin Ali Al-AjjiSummit Secretary-General · International Business Council
- Khamis bin Obaid Al-AjmiHonorary President, Arab Federation of Private Schools · Arab Federation of Private Schools
- Dr Rana Hussein HotaytGeneral Executive Supervisor
- Dr Majed Khaled AarajMedia Spokesperson
- Dr Sheikha Al-KhaterMedia Advisor
- Dr Khaled Abdel Fattah El Sayed MohamedChair, Media Committee
- Dr Hisham KadiChair, Organising Committee
- Dr Sheikha Al-KubaisiChair, Coordination Committee
- Prof Sami Ibrahim Jaafar Al-RubaieChair, Scientific Committee
- Captain Rabih Mustafa BaalbakiChair, Scholars and Innovators Committee
- Dr Inaam Al-ShihabiChair, Recommendations Committee
- Dr Rana Abou DhaherChair, Public Relations and Protocol
- Kamal HenchiriChair, Logistics Committee
- Dr Essam Al-BadriPresident, OEAEC; honoured at the summit · OEAEC
- Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al ThaniChairman, Al Faisal Holding; patron · Al Faisal Holding
- Dr. Ahmed Zaid Abu DhaifChair, Organising Committee
- Dr Nesrine Kessoum
- Hashem Al-JubouriJournalist
- Katib Al-DhabyaniSpeaker on opportunities for expatriates in Qatar
- Dr Manar DeebMedia presenter
Participating organisations
- Katara Cultural Village FoundationKnowledge partner
- American University for Arab Scientists and Investors (USA International University)Co-organiser
- Al Faisal HoldingSponsor
- European Organisation for Academic and Cultural Exchange (OEAEC)Knowledge partner
Quotations
«There, where the future begins.»
Summit motto
Materials and photographs
Key documented outcomes
- Recognition of Dr Essam Al-Badri, president of the European Organisation for Academic and Cultural Exchange
- Thanks extended to Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani and the conference administration
Highlights
- Two days at Katara Cultural Village
- A research track receiving abstracts and full papers
- Personal patronage by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani
Sources · 11 sources
- Al Shabaka Mubasher, summit announcement09.01.2026News portal
- Al Shabaka Mubasher, summit opening23.01.2026News portal
- Al Shabaka Mubasher, follow-up report06.06.2026News portal
- Sayidat wa Aamal19.01.2026News portal
- znn, patronage coverage18.01.2026News portal
- Wakalat Al-Hadath06.02.2026News portal
- Al-Masadir Al-Arabia, media committee13.11.2025News portal
- Al-Mughtarib Channel, interview with Dr Siham Al-Bayatiyoutube.comNews portal
- Al-Mughtarib Channel, interview with Dr Abdul Karim Al-Asfouryoutube.comNews portal
- Al-Mughtarib Channel, interview with Dr Nesrine Kessoumyoutube.comNews portal
- Al-Mughtarib Channel, YouTubeyoutube.comNews portal