MCIT and GSMA Unveil Highlights of MWC25 Doha at Joint Press Conference

 The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the GSMA today held a joint press conference at the DECC to announce details of the inaugural edition of MWC25 Doha, scheduled for 25 –26 November under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

The press conference featured H.E. Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT; Mr. Khalid Taiss Aljumaily, Director of Public Relations and Communication at MCIT; Mr. John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA; and Ms. Lara Dewar, CMO at GSMA, alongside a number of distinguished local figures and GSMA representatives. 

His Excellency Mr. 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.” 

Speakers highlighted that the inaugural edition is expected to attract participants from over 60 countries, with more than 200 speakers representing leading organizations in the ICT sector. The conference will feature 5 stages for showcasing the latest innovations, 11 summits addressing key industry topics, and 4 keynote sessions delivered by global leaders, focusing on the future of connectivity, the digital economy, and knowledge-driven innovation. 

In her remarks, H.E. Reem Al Mansoori emphasized that hosting MWC25 Doha in partnership with GSMA affirms international confidence in Qatar’s position as a key ICT hub. She noted that the conference serves as a strategic platform to bring together top leaders, innovators, and investors from around the world to shape shared visions and pioneering solutions for advancing the global digital economy. 

This collaboration, she mentioned, strengthens Qatar’s role as a regional and global center for digital transformation, in line with the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030. 

She further added: “Performance indicators in the ICT sector reflect Qatar’s growing prominence on the global digital stage, with sector revenues exceeding QAR 11.4 billion in 2024. The market is experiencing sustainable growth, with the data center market expected to reach $259 million by 2029 and the cloud computing market projected to hit $303 million by 2026. These figures confirm that Qatar offers an advanced digital environment, reinforcing its role as a regional and global hub for digital innovation.” 

For his part, Mr. John Hoffman stated that Qatar’s hosting of this global event is clear evidence of its expanding role in supporting digital innovation regionally and internationally and embodies its ambitious vision for building a knowledge-based economy. 

 He said: “MWC25 Doha is a strategic bridge connecting the MENA region to the world, embodying GSMA’s commitment to empowering communities through technology and fostering partnerships to build a more connected and innovative future.” 

MWC25 Doha is built around three core themes reflecting global ICT trends: 

• AI Nexus: Including the Agentic AI Summit, AI-Powered Telco Summit, and AI Economy Summit.  

• Intelligent Economies: Featuring the Security Summit, 5G Futures Summit, and Intelligent Data Centers Summit. 

• Connected Industries: Covering the Open Gateway Summit, Fintech & Commerce Summit, Smart Mobility Summit, Satellite & NTN Summit, and IoT Summit. 

The 4th edition of the Smart City Expo Doha, organized by Fira de Barcelona, will be a key event alongside MWC25 Doha, focusing on the latest urban transformation innovations and smart solutions for challenges in sustainability, transport, energy, and urban management. 

The conference will also host the GSMA Digital Leaders Program, marking its first edition in the MENA region after successful editions in Barcelona and Shanghai. The program will convene top technology stakeholders through 25 high-level meetings and roundtables, fostering dialogue and collaboration among global leaders. 

Additionally, the GSMA Ministerial Programme, a leading platform for digital policy dialogue, will take place in Doha, with almost 30 global delegations confirmed already, including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, and international organizations. The programme will feature both open and closed sessions, keynote addresses, bilateral meetings, private networking, and closed-door roundtables to strengthen policy exchange among decision-makers. 

The joint press conference also revealed key features of the MWC25 Doha exhibition, with 150 exhibitors confirmed and expectations to surpass 200 by the event’s opening in November. Confirmed companies include Cisco, Dell, Google Cloud, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, Mannai, Microsoft, Nokia, Ooredoo, PwC, Qatar University, VEON, Vodafone, ZTE, and Meeza. 

The Qatar Pavilion will serve as a unified national platform at the exhibition, bringing together government, semi-government, and private sector entities to showcase pioneering digital initiatives and projects that highlight the country’s leadership in innovation and digital transformation. It will also serve as a platform to attract investments, foster global partnerships, and exchange expertise with international partners, reflecting Qatar’s digital transformation journey and future ambitions. 

Other programs and events include the 4YFN platform for startups, connecting investors with entrepreneurs to accelerate digital innovation. The most recent Barcelona edition attracted over 1,000 startups and 900 investors with collective funds totalling €60 billion, while the Doha edition will showcase selected innovations in fintech, deep tech, climate tech, and health tech.  

The press conference featured the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding between the GSMA and national institutions, including the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Qatar University, Media City, Ooredoo, and Vodafone. 

The conference brings together technology and policy in a single space, creating a direct bridge between decision-makers and innovators. It will spotlight future trends shaping the next decade, with a focus on advanced 5G technologies that promise faster, smarter, and more secure connectivity.  

The event will further explore the role of AI in media and content, emphasizing support for the Arabic language and the enhancement of the region’s digital identity. In addition, it will highlight digital education and skills development. 

Notably, MWC25 Doha is the first edition of the GSMA’s flagship series to be held in the Middle East and North Africa, following previous editions in leading cities such as Barcelona, Shanghai, and Las Vegas. Doha will continue to host 5 editions of the conference from 2025 to 2029. 

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