Doha, Qatar: Doha will host the ninth edition of the World Investment Forum from 25 to 27 October 2026, held jointly by the State of Qatar and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) under the theme “Investing in the Future.”
The Forum will bring together high-level participants, including ministers and senior government officials, as well as CEOs, business leaders, investors, sovereign wealth fund executives, and representatives of international organisations, investment promotion agencies, financial and development institutions, and the global entrepreneurial community.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is participating as an official partner of the Forum, in line with its role in supporting economic diversification, enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy, developing the business and investment environment, and advancing private-sector growth. The Ministry also works to attract high-value investments and expand partnerships with the business community and international institutions, contributing to Qatar’s position as a regional and international hub for business and investment.
The Forum will examine the impact of economic fragmentation and technological developments on capital flows and investment decisions, as well as ways to broaden the benefits of investment and strengthen its contribution to sustainable development and economic resilience.
The programme features more than 70 sessions and high-level dialogues, with 211 speakers across seven thematic tracks, addressing key sectors and issues shaping the future of global investment. These include artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, sustainable finance, tourism and culture, as well as emerging investment opportunities, including the space economy.
The programme also includes high-level plenary sessions, ministerial roundtables, and dialogues bringing together governments, investors and business leaders.
In addition to the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Global Dialogue, the Global Investment Promotion Conference, and a number of specialised sessions on investment policy, entrepreneurship, finance and development, the programme will feature a range of other activities.
A key feature of the Forum’s agenda is the high-level session on “The Future of Investment in the Gulf Region,” held in collaboration with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The session will bring together ministers and officials responsible for investment across the GCC to discuss promising investment opportunities in the region, policies and initiatives supporting investment attraction, prospects for deeper Gulf economic integration, and the region’s role in strengthening its position as a global investment hub.
The Forum takes place against the backdrop of the rapidly evolving impact of recent regional developments on global trade, particularly disruptions to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and their effects on energy flows and shipping activity.
Rising transport and insurance costs and mounting pressure on supply networks and international markets have brought renewed attention to the security of trade corridors and the continuity of goods and energy flows.
These developments underscore the importance of diversifying supply routes and trading destinations, while strengthening international coordination and cooperation to mitigate the spillover effects of regional disruptions on global trade and the wider economy. These issues are becoming increasingly significant amid mounting challenges and risks across the international economic landscape.
World Investment Forum returns to the State of Qatar 14 years after Doha hosted its third edition in 2012.
