Qatar and UNCTAD Launch World Investment Forum in Doha

The Government of Qatar, in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), opened the ninth World Investment Forum in Doha on October 25, 2026. The three-day event, themed Investing in the Future, has gathered over 5,000 participants and 406 speakers, including prime ministers from Qatar, Lesotho, Libya, and Madagascar.

The forum addresses a significant imbalance in global capital flows. While foreign direct investment rose 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, over 80% of those flows remained concentrated in the 20 largest economies. Recent UNCTAD data indicates a decline in new investment projects and cross-border transactions, with investment in critical sectors like healthcare, energy, and infrastructure falling by more than 25% in developing nations.

Across 108 sessions and eight tracks, participants are discussing artificial intelligence infrastructure, sustainable finance, climate change, and post-conflict reconstruction. Qatar is using the forum to promote its own economic diversification under Qatar National Vision 2030, highlighting a $1 billion incentive program and legislation that allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani attended the inauguration, noting that international forums foster cooperation to address economic challenges resulting from regional and global developments.