Davos-Klosters, Switzerland | Tuesday, January 20, 2026

At the opening of the World Economic Forum, announcement of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) to be held in Doha in September 2026

From September 21 to 24, 2026, Doha, the capital of Qatar, will host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), led by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and by Qatar Development Bank (QDB). GEN brings together a global network of more than 2.24 million entrepreneurs and over 1,000 active partnerships. The event aims to strengthen the role of the GEC as a global platform for cooperation, investment and entrepreneurial impact.

DAVOS-KLOSTERS – On the occasion of the opening of the World Economic Forum, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announced on Tuesday, January 20, that Doha will host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) from September 21 to 24, 2026.

Branded “Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) Doha 2026,” the event is designed to strengthen the GEC’s capacity to mobilize, at a global level, a large-scale entrepreneurial community around concrete, sustainable and measurable growth trajectories. GEC 2026 is co-hosted by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Qatar Development Bank. The Congress will feature Rowad, Qatar’s flagship platform for entrepreneurship and innovation, showcasing the nation’s programs, startups, and investment initiatives to a global audience.

As part of its long-term commitment to economic development and entrepreneurship, Qatar affirms a clear positioning: that of a platform capable of aligning strategic dialogue, execution capacity and high-impact partnerships. Doha is architecting an innovative economic landscape where entrepreneurship functions as a catalyst of global synergy, directing capital flow and driving institutional transformation.

A global platform focused on activation and results

GEC Doha 2026 will bring together more than 3000 entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, financial institutions and public decision-makers, from over 200 countries and organizations.

Over four days, Doha will host an international community mobilized around a shared objective: accelerating the transformation of dialogue into concrete action, including investment, cross-border collaboration, sectoral innovation, entrepreneurial growth trajectories and pro-growth public policies.

“The State of Qatar is proud to welcome the global entrepreneurship ecosystem to Doha for GEC 2026. Hosting this landmark event underscores our commitment to accelerating entrepreneurial growth, serving as a catalyst for innovation, and positioning Doha as a dynamic global launchpad for pioneering ideas, transformative solutions, and cross-border collaboration. Through this partnership, we will work together to capitalize on shared values and explore new opportunities, bringing global innovators together to drive the next wave of entrepreneurial growth,”

said Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al-Sowaidi, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank.

As the host and co-organizer, QDB delivers GEC 2026 through Rowad, its national entrepreneurship platform, enabling startups, investors, and ecosystem partners from around the world to connect, collaborate, and scale impactful ventures.

The Global Entrepreneurship Network, a catalyst for ecosystems worldwide

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress was initiated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network in 2009. Active in more than 200 countries and territories, GEN is one of the most extensive entrepreneurial networks in the world. It has co-hosted the GEC in 13 countries across five continents.

“Qatar brings together rare conditions: a clear strategic vision, recognized execution capabilities and an international positioning that fosters dialogue and cooperation. GEC Doha 2026 continues to underscore the role of the Congress as a global reference platform, capable of generating structured collaboration and concrete outcomes for entrepreneurial ecosystems,”

said Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

An international standard built on discretion and excellence

The design and delivery of GEC Doha 2026 will be led by PublicisLive, an international agency recognized for the design and orchestration of some of the world’s most structurally significant platforms for dialogue and influence, including the World Economic Forum.

Operating with a high level of discretion alongside leading organizations, institutions and governments, PublicisLive brings its expertise in the creation of durable platforms designed to foster stakeholder convergence, the quality of interactions and the delivery of long-term results.

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About Qatar Development Bank (QDB):

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) is Qatar’s government-backed development institution, driving entrepreneurship, enterprise growth, and private sector development as key engines of economic diversification. Through integrated solutions spanning financing, investment, capacity building, and export support, QDB empowers startups and enterprises with access to networks, advisory services, and global opportunities. Partnering with public and private stakeholders, QDB strengthens Qatar’s business ecosystem while fostering cross-continental collaboration and connecting enterprises to regional and international markets. Aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, QDB champions innovation, enables scalable growth, and positions Qatar as a forward-looking hub for entrepreneurship, investment, and sustainable economic impact worldwide.

About the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN):

The Global Entrepreneurship Network operates in 200 countries with a mission to make it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start and scale a business. GEN connects a global community of more than 2 million entrepreneurs and more than 1,000 partnerships among public, private and institutional stakeholders.

By fostering deeper cross-border collaboration between founders, investors, policymakers, ecosystem builders and others, GEN fuels healthier and more efficient local and national entrepreneurship ecosystems. Network members collaborate to democratize opportunity, drive economic mobility, create new jobs and grow economies while developing the conditions for entrepreneurs to solve the world’s toughest challenges.

About PublicisLive:

PublicisLive is the leading international agency specializing in the design, advisory and orchestration of global platforms for dialogue, influence and cooperation.

For more than 30 years, PublicisLive has partnered with leading organizations, institutions and forward-thinking governments to create strategic platforms where public leaders, business executives, investors and opinion leaders converge. Its expertise spans the full value chain, from strategic positioning and concept design to production and ecosystem activation.

Recognized for its operational excellence, attention to detail and high level of discretion, PublicisLive operates some of the world’s most structurally significant platforms in politically, economically and reputationally sensitive environments, transforming vision into durable platforms that deliver long-term impact.