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The Startup Ecosystem of Qatar

Qatar has 1 city in the top 1000 and is one of Middle East’s best countries for setting up a startup.

COUNTRY RANKING

Qatar’s startup scene saw an increase in 2024 and jumped 11 spots from the previous year, outranking Azerbaijan.

Population

2.7
Million

Regional Ranking

7th
0
In Middle East

Global Ranking

79th
+
11
Worldwide

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

aerial photography of concrete buildings
Qatar, one of the world’s wealthiest nations due to its abundant oil and gas reserves, is strategizing for a future beyond reliance on these finite resources. With the Qatar National Vision 2030 guiding the way, the government is actively working to diversify and enhance the economy to ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness. Despite the challenges presented by the Qatar diplomatic crisis, the tech startup scene in Qatar remains resilient, with standout companies like Snoonu and At-Home-Doc securing significant investments.


Foreign startups are increasingly drawn to Qatar’s favorable business landscape, with Invest Qatar playing a pivotal role in facilitating their entry into the market. Through the Invest Qatar Gateway platform, companies can access valuable resources, connect with key players, and explore partnership opportunities to establish a strong presence in the country.


The Startup Qatar Investment Program, backed by a substantial US$ 100 million fund managed by Qatar Development Bank, offers vital support to seed and growth-stage tech startups, with funding ranging from US$ 500,000 for early-stage ventures to US$ 5 million for expanding companies. This initiative aligns with the broader objectives of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on energy prices, making strategic investments in promising ventures like Insider PTE.


Complementing the investment landscape, Qatar boasts a vibrant startup community supported by incubation centers, seed funding programs, and innovation hubs like Qatar Science & Technology Park and Qatar Business and Incubation Center. With access to talent, capital, and market opportunities, entrepreneurs in Qatar have the necessary ingredients to cultivate a thriving startup ecosystem. Encouraging the establishment of private sector venture capital funds is crucial to fuel the growth of scalable startups and position Qatar as a leading hub for innovation in the region.

Startups

Qatar Top Startup Industries

Software & Data icon
Software & Data
13 startups
Ecommerce & Retail icon
Ecommerce & Retail
8 startups
Edtech icon
Edtech
5 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

Qatar Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Qatar has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...

  • Overperformance
  • Performance equal to global ranking
  • Underperformance
IndustryGlobal rankMomentum YoYNumber of Startups
Global7942
Ecommerce & RetailN/A08
Edtech00.0000.0000.00
Energy & Environment00.0000.0000.00
Fintech00.0000.0000.00
Foodtech00.0000.0000.00
Hardware & IoT00.0000.0000.00
Healthtech00.0000.0000.00

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of Qatar

Download list
Snoonu startup logo
Transportation | Logistics
Unranked
SkipCash startup logo
Fintech | Financial Services
Unranked
EMMA Systems, Inc startup logo
Software & Data | Software
Unranked
KARTY startup logo
Software & Data | Enterprise Technology
Unranked
UMMA LIFE startup logo
Marketing & Sales | Adtech
Unranked
Dibsy startup logo
Fintech | Financial Services
Unranked
Pass Delivery startup logo
Software & Data | Enterprise Technology
Unranked
Droobi Health startup logo
Healthtech | Health Care
Unranked
History Adventures startup logo
Software & Data | Software and Data-Other
Unranked
Fish.qa startup logo
Ecommerce & Retail | Ecommerce
Unranked
TENN.ai startup logo
Software & Data | Artificial Intelligence
Unranked

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Startup Ecosystem Charts

Startup Funding in Qatar2017 - 2024

Startup Funding in Qatar 2017 - 2024

From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in Qatar has increased by 8.9%. During this period, the number of deals in Qatar has decreased by 16.67%. Since 2017, total startup funding in Qatar exceeded US$ $75.22M.

Average Funding in 2023

$4.04M

Qatar
Middle East
+30.68% YoY

Funding in 2023

$20.20M

Qatar
Middle East
+8.90% YoY

Deals in 2023

5

Qatar
Middle East
-16.67% YoY

USD

Amount of Funding (USD)

Number of Deals

20172018201920202021202220232024$0.00$15.00B$30.00B$45.00B$60.00B0481216

Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in Qatar

In 2024, Qatar register a rise in Software & Data startups. Some of the most notable success stories in this industry are those of , Snoonu.

Global Rank

Qatar is ranked within the top 100 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

Qatar’s startup scene is best represented in Software & Data, Ecommerce & Retail, and in Edtech.

Top Cities for Startups in Qatar - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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2024 National Rank CityGlobal Rank
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Total Score

Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries

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Quantity Score
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Quality Score
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Business Score
1st
0
442nd
+
94
0.647
00.00
00.00
00.00
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Download CSV file
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Startups

Notable Startups in Qatar
Snoonu startup icon
Snoonu
SkipCash startup icon
SkipCash
EMMA Systems, Inc startup icon
EMMA Systems, Inc

BLOG

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