Doha, February 25 (QNA) - The economy of the State of Qatar is undergoing an accelerated strategic transformation from reliance on natural resources to a model based on knowledge, innovation, and technology, in clear alignment with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, which places economic diversification and enhancing global competitiveness at the forefront of its priorities.

This transformation reflects a growing recognition of the importance of human capital and scientific progress as key drivers of sustainable growth in a world witnessing rapid economic and technological changes.

The knowledge economy is based on investment in education and scientific research, development of national skills, building an advanced digital infrastructure, in addition to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to the creation of added economic value beyond traditional resources.

In this context, Qatar has launched policies and programs aimed at empowering national competencies, attracting modern technologies, and strengthening international partnerships with major global companies in the fields of advanced technology.

The features of this transformation have begun to clearly emerge through improvement in international performance indicators, particularly in the areas of digital government and innovation, reflecting the country's progress in building an integrated knowledge economy that supports comprehensive development and enhances Qatar's position on the global economic map.

Confirming the above, the State of Qatar ranked among the top twenty globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Index for 2025 issued by the International Institute for Management Development.

Thus, Qatar advanced from 26th place in 2024 to 20th place in 2025, affirming the continuous development the country is witnessing under Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030), which place digital transformation and innovation at the core of the country's sustainable development.

This ongoing progress reflects the state's commitment to its path towards building a competitive economy based on knowledge and innovation.

In this context, Dr. Hashim Al Sayed, financial and economic expert, stated in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the State of Qatar relies on four basic pillars in building a knowledge-based economy: human capital, digital infrastructure, a supportive regulatory environment, and the availability of a sufficient number of innovation project incubators and accelerators.

He pointed out that the State of Qatar has made great efforts to establish these pillars as part of its endeavors to build a strong economy capable of supporting the development march of various industries in the future.

He noted the integration of the education system in Qatar with the goals of the knowledge economy by updating curricula to focus on modern skills such as programming, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Al Sayed also indicated that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education aims to transform schools into innovation laboratories and enhance the quality of higher education through national universities and attracting a group of prestigious international universities that form a strong addition to the education march in the State of Qatar, in addition to research centers and institutes, qualifying generations capable of leading a diversified and sustainable economy.

He explained that business incubators and accelerators are key engines in the knowledge economy, as they create an ideal environment for entrepreneurs to achieve their ambitions, paving the way for turning ideas into successful projects capable of growth and sustainability, by providing a package of services for startups such as technical and administrative support, financing and investment networks, accelerating market access, spreading the culture of entrepreneurship, and mentoring to transform innovative ideas into sustainable projects.

The financial and economic expert clarified that these entities contribute to reducing risks, accelerating growth, and connecting innovators with resources, thus enhancing competitiveness and technological innovation within the economy, making incubators a unique platform for project success and creating an ideal environment for entrepreneurs to achieve their ambitions.

He stressed that the State of Qatar is working to keep pace with all developments in the digital field, as Qatar has enhanced its position in recent years as a global center for emerging technology, including artificial intelligence, by driving digital innovation across various sectors.

He added that the third edition of Web Summit Qatar 2026 witnessed record participation in the number of attendees from around the world, exceeding 30,000 people from 127 countries, an increase of about 18 percent over the number of participants in the previous edition, with the participation of nearly 1,000 investors, and 1,637 startups, 38 percent of which were founded by women.

This year's edition recorded a 27 percent increase in the number of investors participating in the global event's activities.

The number of memorandums of understanding signed during the summit reached 77 MOUs between Qatari institutions and prominent global technology companies, aiming to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship in Qatar, reflecting the progress of the national entrepreneurship ecosystem and its ability to provide innovative solutions with a global dimension, based on supportive legislation, advanced digital infrastructure, and integration between the public and private sectors, translating the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 into sustainable growth opportunities.

Al Sayed continued: The investment program "Startup Qatar", launched by the Investment Promotion Agency in 2024, has a major role in attracting startups and international companies, presenting an advanced model of a business environment that combines legislative flexibility, investment incentives, and institutional support under one umbrella, and is considered one of the strategic initiatives to support the state's efforts to diversify income sources and enhance the knowledge-based economy.