AI offers significant opportunities for Qatar’s SMEs and startups

Doha, Qatar - Qatar has laid strong groundwork for its AI ambitions through significant investment in infrastructure, technology and talent, but the focus now is on turning these investments into measurable economic value. PwC Qatar's Bassam Hajhamad revealed that 84% of surveyed CEOs in Qatar have AI roadmaps and nearly three-quarters report revenue growth due to AI, according to PwC's CEO Survey.

Hajhamad emphasized the need to scale these gains across the economy, aiming for productivity, business growth and improved public services to support Qatar's Third National Development Strategy. He highlighted AI's potential to enhance competitiveness, develop new products, and access new markets for Qatar's SMEs and startups. While local businesses can benefit from Qatar's expanding AI infrastructure without major upfront technology investments, access to technology must be complemented by financing, expertise, and commercialization opportunities.

Hajhamad pointed to government services, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and businesses aiming to improve operations as sectors with the most potential to leverage AI. Within government, AI can enhance service delivery and efficiency; in the private sector, it can improve customer experience, automate processes, and create new revenue streams. The key to maximizing returns is applying AI to real business challenges and measuring results.

To ensure local economic benefits from these investments, Hajhamad stressed strengthening links between research, investment, and commercialization while improving local companies' access to capital, expertise, and market opportunities through international partnerships. He also stressed the importance of developing the national workforce to support Qatar's growing AI economy, moving beyond teaching AI use to building capabilities for building, implementing, and governing AI.

Looking ahead to 2030, Hajhamad stressed that success should be measured by the economic value generated by technology investments, aiming for a stronger, more competitive private sector, better public services, and a growing ecosystem of local technology companies.