Simon Pullicino
The start of 2026 has been particularly active and meaningful for Malta’s engagement in Qatar, marked by participation in a series of high-profile events that brought together governments, businesses, innovators and creatives from across the world. These occasions not only highlighted Malta’s growing international outreach, but also showcased Qatar’s outstanding ability to host successful global platforms with vision, inclusivity and purpose.
One of the most notable, recent event was the highly-anticipated 2026 Web Summit Qatar. Thanks to Qatar, this cornerstone event for the global technology and innovation community registered a record number of countries and start-ups participating and a record-breaking attendance.
Qatar’s forward-looking approach was clearly reflected in the summit’s organisation, ambition and substance. The announcements made by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, during the opening ceremony of the Summit underlined Qatar’s strong commitment, under the wise leadership of H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, to innovation, entrepreneurship and digital growth, sending a clear message that the country is committed to shaping the future of technology.
Threls Ltd, a Maltese start-up, that embodies the creativity and drive of the country’s emerging tech ecosystem, participated for the first time. Their participation provided a valuable opportunity to engage with global partners and to contribute to conversations shaping the next chapter of technological development. Reflecting on the experience, Threls described Web Summit Qatar 2026 as both inspiring and highly productive, offering an exceptional platform to connect with fellow innovators, investors, and industry leaders from around the world, while gaining first-hand insight into Qatar’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem. The quality of discussions, openness to collaboration, and strong institutional support for startups made Doha an ideal setting for meaningful engagement, reinforcing the value of Malta’s presence at such a forward-looking international event.
Commenting on the experience, Karl Sultana, Threls Co-Founder and CFO, stated that “stepping into Qatar for the first time felt less like an arrival and more like a return to something familiar. We were impressed by the welcome we received, by the generous hospitality of our hosts, and more importantly a profound alignment in our shared drive to collaborate for a better tomorrow. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to build connections here and hope to walk alongside Middle Eastern businesses, offering our humble support as their technology strategic partner as we work together to make this region a second home.” Beyond the tech sphere, Malta also took part in other major events hosted by Qatar in 2026. At DIMDEX, a high-level Maltese delegation joined international partners at one of the region’s most important maritime defence exhibitions, reflecting Malta’s interest in dialogue and cooperation in this field. The scale and professionalism of DIMDEX once again demonstrated Qatar’s ability to convene meaningful, high-impact forums that deliver real outcomes.
In a different but equally important dimension, Malta’s cultural and entrepreneurial spirit was on display at the Qatar International Food Festival, where Hermanos Burgers represented Malta’s vibrant food scene. Their presence added a Maltese flavour to a record-breaking event in terms of visitors, that celebrated diversity, creativity and shared experiences, values that lie at the heart of Qatar’s approach to public engagement and cultural exchange.
Across all these events, a common thread was Qatar’s exceptional hospitality and thoughtful organisation. Whether in technology, defence, business or culture, Qatar has shown a remarkable ability to create platforms that are not only world-class in scale, but also welcoming, inclusive and focused on genuine collaboration.
Malta extends its sincere appreciation to the State of Qatar for hosting these events and for fostering an environment where countries, companies and communities can connect, share ideas and build lasting partnerships. As Malta looks ahead, it does so with enthusiasm to further strengthen ties with Qatar and to continue contributing to initiatives that promote innovation, dialogue and shared prosperity.
