Building in the AI nation [Hosted by PwC Middle East]

Qatar’s AI Ambition: Navigating Innovation and Scaling for a Digital Future

PwC Middle East hosted a masterclass at Web Summit 2026, focusing on “Building in the AI nation.” Mr. Yazen Al Safi, a PwC Partner, introduced the session, emphasizing practical realities of AI market entry, infrastructure, and scaling. He positioned Qatar as an ideal launchpad for ICT companies and startups.

Mr. Al Safi detailed Qatar’s significant commitment to AI, including a $2.5 billion investment and an additional $2 billion in VC funding. This national dedication, supported by new visa schemes, aims to foster rapid company establishment, signaling Qatar’s intent to become a global ICT capital.

Qatar’s infrastructure offers a first-mover advantage. Universal 5G and fast mobile speeds support Edge AI and real-time use cases. Established country cloud providers facilitate data residency, with plans for expanded AI services and GPUs within a year. Foundational sovereign AI infrastructure is also underway.

The national strategy prioritizes healthcare, infrastructure, transport logistics, and tourism for digitization, offering fertile ground for AI startups. Thinking globally is vital; Qatar provides a strategic starting point, granting access to the $1.6 trillion GCC economy and global connectivity via Qatar Airways.

Mr. Moussa Beidas, PwC’s AI Go-to-Market Lead, discussed global AI trends, noting the shift from standard models to advanced application layers and agentic workforces. He detailed AI’s progression from augmentation to automation, and ultimately to “AI at core,” where generative AI is integral to a technology’s fundamental value.

Mr. Beidas used the “bullet holes on planes” analogy to illustrate human bias, advocating for identifying “white spaces”—unseen opportunities—rather than obvious problems. The aim is to democratize information and evolve AI experiences from passive to proactive, with continuous, intelligent intervention.

Mr. Hadi Kobeissi, a PwC Partner, addressed key barriers to AI scaling: data reality (quality, volume), integration readiness (legacy systems), technology velocity (rapid obsolescence), trust and risk (hallucinations, autonomous actions), and people/change management (job displacement). Proving quantifiable value remains a substantial barrier.

To overcome these, Mr. Kobeissi advised co-designing with stakeholders, identifying constraints early, and embedding trust, safety, and scalability from day one. Mr. Omar Shareen, Partner in cybersecurity and digital trust at PwC, highlighted Qatar’s supportive regulatory environment, including data privacy laws and cybercrime legislation.

Mr. Kobeissi concluded by recommending modularity in AI solution development, leveraging hyperscaler capabilities. Innovation should focus on unique, non-existent aspects. Defining and relentlessly measuring value—such as faster decision-making, improved outcomes, or cost savings—is essential for successful AI adoption and scaling. Collaboration among startups, vendors, government, and consultants like PwC is encouraged to realize AI’s true potential.