Doha, 23 Sept. 2025

The GSMA and Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Of State of Qatar  (MCIT)  announced updates and new details for the inaugural MWC25 Doha during a pre-event press briefing held yesterday on Tuesday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

As the first MWC event in MENA, MWC Doha forms a central part of Qatar’s Digital Agenda 2030, across two days of agenda-setting debate, innovation, and collaboration. Over 200 speakers, aromd 200 exhibitors,  80% of which from 60 countries  from various regions around the world international, along with 200 experts and leading professionals will be participating.

Present  at the press briefing, were HE Mrs. Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT Qatar; Khalid Aljumaily, Public Relations and Communication Director at MCIT Qatar; GSMA CMO, Lara Dewar, and GSMA Ltd. CEO, John Hoffman.

Among exhibitors from diversified areas that already confirmed include are Cisco, Dell, Google Cloud, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, Mannai, Microsoft, Nokia, Ooredoo, PwC, Qatar University, VEON, Vodafone, ZTE and the latest addition - leading Qatari data centre and AI services provider, Meeza.

HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said:
“Hosting the inaugural MWC25 Doha is an important milestone for Qatar and for the region. It reflects our commitment not only to advancing digital transformation under the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030, but also to positioning Doha as a global meeting point for technology, policy, and innovation. By joining Qatar’s calendar of leading global technology events, MWC25 Doha strengthens Qatar’s position as a destination for technology dialogue, digital transformation in the region, and fostering global collaboration. Together with GSMA, we bring the world’s leading voices in ICT to Doha for the first time, to explore the future of AI, 5G, and digital economies.”

The press briefing was followed by the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Qatar University, Media City Qatar, Ooredoo, and Vodafone in support of the inaugural MWC Doha.

Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, said: “We are extremely excited to host our first MWC in the region in Doha, and grateful to MCIT for their partnership to make MWC Doha a success. With bold ambitions, strong investment capacity and a policy environment that largely supports innovation, MENA is one of the world’s most exciting digital markets right now. And with Qatar at the forefront, Doha is the perfect location for this event. We look forward to welcoming the global tech ecosystem to MWC25 Doha in November.”

MWC Doha will take place on 25–26 November at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, in partnership with MCIT. Spanning three halls, the event brings tech pioneers, leading industry voices, and iconic brands to explore how AI, intelligent infrastructure, fintech, mobility and frontier technologies are transforming economies and societies.

The agenda is focused on the themes shaping tech and business - AI Nexus, Intelligent Economies, and Connected Industries – and features the regional debut of 4YFN – the official startup platform of MWC – the GSMA Ministerial Programme, the GSMA digital Leaders Programme, and Smart City Expo Doha, a spin-off from Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s leading event on cities and smart urban transformation, organised by Fira de Barcelona.

MWC202 Doha: A Global Platform for Startups, Innovators, and Policymakers to Collaborate

Talking to www.asiantelegraphqatar.com on the sidelines of the press conference, Mrs. Reem Mohammed Al Mansouri, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), spoke to Qatar Tribune about the Mobile World Congress MWC2025 Doha,. she highlighted that the event serves as a platform for diverse audiences, including presidents, CEOs, and officials responsible for regulation and policy. It will also bring together major industry leaders, innovators, start-up founders, and entrepreneurs.

Mrs. Al Mansouri emphasized that the MWC2025 Doha will creates a unique opportunity for these groups to convene in one place and engage with each other. This interaction allows them to gain valuable insights into technological advancements and understand how entrepreneurs can benefit from the support of regulators, policymakers, and decision-makers. According to her, technology requires the right regulatory environment, and innovation cannot progress effectively if policies are not aligned with it. She noted that the MWC is distinctive in its ability to bring all stakeholders together, offering them a chance to influence policy decisions through dialogue.

On the sidelines of the press conference, talking to www.asiantelegraphqatar.com, John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd discussed the startup and entrepreneur ecosystem that will be introduced to Qatar at the MWC. He explained that the program, which was first launched over a decade ago in Barcelona, has since been expanded to MWC events in Shanghai and Las Vegas, and now, it will debut in Qatar. The initiative aims to bring together the startup community, entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, and regulatory agencies to foster a collaborative environment for discussing how these businesses can thrive within a supportive regulatory framework. It also aims to connect startups with potential customers and users.

. expressed excitement about the program, emphasizing that it offers startups a platform not only to learn how to build successful organizations but also to expand internationally and profitably. He acknowledged that the ecosystem in Qatar is well-established and looks forward to engaging with local startups. Regarding the number of startups expected to participate, John shared his hopes for hundreds of companies to join, similar to the over 1,000 companies represented in Barcelona this past year. He believes the ecosystem will continue to grow, though it may take some time, and he is optimistic about the future of the startup community in Qatar.