Doha, Qatar: Web Summit Qatar 2026 has emerged as a pivotal catalyst for the nation’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, according to Founder and CEO of Pass, Bashar Jaber, one of Qatar’s leading e-commerce logistics companies.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the event, Jaber emphasised how the international technology conference has become an essential platform for regional entrepreneurs and investors alike.
“The Web Summit is a major eye-opener,” Jaber said. “It is an eye-opener for investors, for startups, for anybody who wants to start their own company. It’s a testament of effort and a motivator that groups everybody together, puts them under the same roof.”
The event’s remarkable growth trajectory has exceeded all expectations. What organisers initially projected would attract 5,000 attendees within three years has mushroomed to over 30,000 participants in its third edition, with 1,600 startups participating, 85 percent of which are from Qatar.
For Pass, Web Summit represents both a showcase and a moment of reflection. “In my specific case, the Web Summit is a reset button,” Jaber explained. “It’s a good way to look at what we’ve done so far and ensure that we’re not very hard on ourselves, and realise that we’ve been doing somewhat of a good job.”
Pass has experienced significant evolution since its establishment two years ago. After an initial diagnostic phase exploring various business models, the company has positioned itself as what Jaber describes as “the backbone of e-commerce” in the region, specialising in last-mile delivery and fulfillment services.
“If you’re a seller anywhere in the world that would like to sell to anyone in the GCC, you would simply use Pass to become your fulfillment and last-mile partner,” Jaber said. The company handles the operational complexities of e-commerce, including storage, delivery, cash-on-delivery processing, and inventory management through API integration with platforms like Shopify.
The company’s participation at Web Summit has been “exhilarating,” with overwhelming support from local, regional, and global markets. “A few years ago, we started off with a small stand. Now, having a booth is a testament that growth is available and inevitable if you focus on the service that you find yourself the best at,” Jaber noted.
Beyond its own success, Pass actively supports Qatar’s startup community through sponsorship of local events like Startup Night. Jaber emphasised the importance of this support, noting that local startups “solve a lot of Qatari problems” by addressing real use cases and pain points. “Promoting them is indirectly also helping shape a better life in Qatar,” he said.
Jaber observed a dramatic transformation in Qatar’s startup landscape over recent years. “Three, four years ago versus now, it’s a contrasting difference,” he stated. “Previously, getting an idea funded was somewhat difficult. But nowadays, as the region expands when it comes to fulfilling startups and realising that startups are actually the essence of solving problems, it’s a very refreshing change.”
The launch of Qatar’s Fund of Funds and its second version has further energised the ecosystem, attracting talent to the region. Pass is currently in talks for a Series A funding round, significantly larger than its pre-Series A round from eighteen months ago, which will be utilised to expand services and unlock more sellers across the region.
As Web Summit Qatar continues to grow, it serves as compelling evidence that Qatar’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship is yielding tangible results, positioning the nation as a regional hub for technology-driven business solutions.
