Doha, Qatar: Alex Mashrabov, CEO and co-founder of HiggsField AI, has described Web Summit Qatar 2026 as a uniquely powerful global platform, praising Doha’s rapid emergence as a centre for technology, investment and culture.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the four-day summit, Mashrabov said the event stood out not only for its scale and international reach, but also for the concentration of complementary global initiatives taking place simultaneously in the Qatari capital.
“It’s not just Web Summit,” he said. “You also have major investor engagement, with Qatar Investment Authority being one of the biggest AI investors globally, and at the same time Art Basel is happening in the city. Historically, New York had this kind of concentration. Today, Doha is evolving into that kind of global centre.” Mashrabov, a serial entrepreneur who previously sold his company AI Factory to Snapchat, said this year’s Web Summit Qatar surpassed similar events he had attended in North America.
“My opinion here is way better compared to the one in North America,” he said, adding that the summit felt truly global rather than regional in scope.
HiggsField AI focuses on democratising video artificial intelligence for social media marketers, enabling creative teams, agencies and small businesses to produce high-quality visual content faster and at lower cost using generative AI.
Mashrabov stressed that the company’s mission is not to replace creative professionals, but to empower them. “There is a perception that AI is just about cutting costs,” he said. “We strongly believe AI helps companies tell better stories, showcase their products and ultimately sell more.” He pointed to the Middle East’s strong appetite for AI-driven creativity, noting that the region has historically been quick to adopt advanced visual technologies, including face filters and generative content. HiggsField already has indirect exposure in the region through agencies that use its platform, including campaigns linked to Qatar Airways.
“It shows that creative minds remain critical,” Mashrabov said. “Agencies are transforming, not being replaced.” Commenting on Qatar’s broader technology ambitions, Mashrabov said he was particularly impressed by the country’s speed of development. He cited the rapid rise of Qatar Airways as a global aviation leader and Doha’s transformation into a major travel hub as examples of execution at scale. “It feels like everything was done very quickly and very efficiently,” he said.
He also highlighted Qatar’s and the UAE’s growing influence in the global AI landscape, not just through capital deployment but through infrastructure development. “It’s not only about investment,” he said. “It’s about building data centres, learning how to operate them and creating a real ecosystem. Historically, this would take decades. Here, it has happened in a very short time.”
Reflecting on his overall takeaway from Web Summit Qatar 2026, Mashrabov said the quality of speakers, diversity of participants and depth of discussions set the event apart. “It’s not a local event. It’s a truly global one,” he said.
While HiggsField did not announce formal deals during the summit, Mashrabov confirmed several strategic conversations aimed at future expansion in the Middle East. “We are very excited about the opportunities here,” he said. “Web Summit Qatar makes those connections possible.” As the summit concluded, Mashrabov said he hoped to return to Doha, calling the city’s momentum in technology, innovation and culture “impressive and inspiring.”
