Shohboz Makhammadrizaev
In recent years, Qatar has become a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and global technology investment. Through government initiatives, large-scale financial programs and international technology events, the country has created a startup ecosystem that attracts entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world.
Qatar’s achievements in the field of innovation are the result of a long-term strategic policy implemented under the wise leadership of Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. His Highness the Amir has set as a priority the transformation of the country into a knowledge-based economy, the development of innovation and technology. This is being implemented within the framework of the ‘Qatar National Vision 2030’ concept.
One of the important steps in this direction is the Web Summit Qatar, one of the largest technology conferences in the Middle East. Held in Doha in 2026, the summit attracted more than 25,000 participants from 124 countries, more than 1,500 startups and 600 investors. Through initiatives like the Startup Qatar Pavilion, international entrepreneurs have direct access to national institutions that support innovation, such as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Qatar Development Bank, Qatar Free Zones Authority, and Qatar Financial Center.
Meanwhile, Qatar has significantly expanded its funding for technology startups. The Startup Qatar Investment Program, run by the Qatar Development Bank, provides up to $1.1 million to early-stage startups and up to $5.5 million to growth-stage companies. It also provides mentoring, regulatory assistance, and market access opportunities.
In parallel, Qatar Investment Authority has expanded its ‘Fund of Funds’ initiative by an additional $2 billion, bringing the total to $3 billion, aimed at attracting leading global venture capital firms and strengthening the country’s startup ecosystem.
Uzbekistan’s growing potential in startups and digital economy:
While Qatar is becoming a hub for investment and innovation, Uzbekistan is one of the fastest growing digital economies in Central Asia. According to the results of the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 published by StartupBlink, Uzbekistan ranked second among startup ecosystems in the world in terms of growth rate with 132%, which demonstrates the high dynamics of the country’s innovative development.
On the initiative and strong political will of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the development of startups and innovations has become a priority state policy. On February 24, 2026, the President recognized the country’s more than 22 million young people as a strategic potential during an open dialogue with young people.
IT Park Uzbekistan plays an important role in these initiatives. This platform provides a wide range of benefits for startups and technology companies. IT Park members will be fully exempted from corporate tax, income tax, VAT, property and land tax, and customs duties until 2040. As a result, the ecosystem has been expanding rapidly. By the end of 2025, more than 3,400 companies were operating within IT Park, including over 970 enterprises with foreign capital participation.
Prospects for Qatar–Uzbekistan cooperation:
Qatar and Uzbekistan have complementary capabilities and great potential for effective cooperation in the field of startups and technology. Qatar’s financial resources and global platforms, combined with Uzbekistan’s rapidly developing digital market and qualified young personnel, can create an environment for multifaceted cooperation and moving towards talent-based ecenomies. In this regard, the following are considered some of the avenues of cooperation:
-Establishing a joint venture fund. By establishing a fund between the Qatar Development Bank and innovative organizations of Uzbekistan, which borders all Central Asian countries, it will be possible to achieve a central point for supporting startups in the region. The fund will provide investments from early stage to development stage for high-potential startups. For example, by financing AI, fintech and smart city projects, integration opportunities in the Middle East and Central Asia markets will increase.
-Joint Acceleration Programs. There is an opportunity to create a joint acceleration program between Qatar and IT Park Uzbekistan to support startups in entering the Middle Eastern market. The program could provide mentorship, market entry strategies, marketing guidance, financial advisory services, and extensive networking opportunities through global investors and international technology conferences.
-Pilot Technological Projects. Cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, fintech, and digital government could be further developed through pilot projects. These initiatives would enable the testing of new technologies, training of skilled professionals, gaining international experience, and preparing startups for global market entry.
Conclusion. The rapid development of the startup ecosystems of Qatar and Uzbekistan creates broad opportunities for strong cooperation between the two countries. It can create an innovative bridge between the Gulf countries and Central Asia. Cooperation in venture capital, acceleration and new technologies will make this partnership an important factor in economic prosperity for both countries. In this regard, Uzbekistan can play a significant role as a strategically important partner.
