Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards 2026 Honors Qatar’s Startup Innovators and Entrepreneurs

Doha, Qatar – Qatar University, in partnership with HyperThink Systems, has concluded the Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and policymakers to celebrate startups contributing to Qatar’s growing innovation economy.

Organised by Qatar University’s Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Business and Economics, the awards recognised ventures across key sectors including fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, sustainability, edtech, deeptech and social entrepreneurship. The platform is designed to promote ICT and digital entrepreneurship while strengthening collaboration across Qatar’s startup ecosystem.

A platform for Qatar’s startup ecosystem

The Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards have become more than a celebration of business success. They serve as a national platform for identifying promising founders, supporting high-potential ventures and giving visibility to startups building solutions aligned with Qatar’s digital and economic priorities.

This year’s ceremony also highlighted the growing role of entrepreneurship in Qatar’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy. By connecting startups with investors, corporate partners and policymakers, QEA helps create the kind of ecosystem support that early-stage companies need to scale beyond ideas and into market-ready solutions.

The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 by supporting human development through entrepreneurship, economic development through innovation-led growth, and sustainable development through solutions that respond to national priorities. 

Recognising startups across high-growth sectors

The 2026 edition celebrated winners across several categories reflecting the diversity of Qatar’s startup landscape. In the startup categories, SHIPBEE was named Delivery Startup of the Year in e-commerce, ESHFAA won HealthTech Startup of the Year, RFxAI was recognised as DeepTech Startup of the Year, REVIO TECHNOLOGIES won Sustainability Startup of the Year, ALT DRX received FinTech Startup of the Year, and MUALLEMI was named EduTech Startup of the Year. BEVOL won Social Entrepreneur of the Year, while AVEY was named Startup of the Year. 

Individual entrepreneurs were also recognised. Mohab Mohamed Kamal, Founder and CEO of ConnectED, received Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Thuraya Nasser Al-Mulla, Founder and CEO of Receipts, was named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and Ghanim Al-Sulaiti, Founder and CEO of Enbat Group, received Entrepreneur of the Year. 

Why it matters for entrepreneurship in Qatar

The awards reflect a wider shift in Qatar’s innovation landscape, where entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a driver of economic diversification, digital transformation and talent development.

From AI-powered platforms and fintech tools to healthtech, sustainability and education solutions, Qatar-based startups are building products that respond to both local market needs and regional growth opportunities. Recognition platforms such as QEA help give these ventures visibility, credibility and access to the networks needed for expansion.

The ceremony also placed emphasis on youth entrepreneurship. Qatar Tribune reported that this year included a new Youth Entrepreneurship category for students up to 17 years old, reinforcing the importance of supporting entrepreneurial thinking from an early age. 

Building a knowledge-driven future

Qatar University’s Center for Entrepreneurship continues to play a strategic role in nurturing entrepreneurial skills, supporting startup development and connecting academic talent with real-world innovation opportunities.

For HyperThink Systems, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to supporting Qatar’s digital economy by helping startups access the partnerships, infrastructure and tools needed to grow in an AI-driven era. 

As Qatar continues to invest in innovation, digital entrepreneurship and ecosystem-building, the Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards offer a clear signal: the country’s next wave of founders is not only participating in the future economy, but helping shape it.