Star Metro - Doha opens ninth World Investment Forum focused on future investment

The ninth World Investment Forum began in Doha on Sunday, with Qatar hosting the global gathering in partnership with UN Trade and Development, or UNCTAD. The 2026 edition is being held under the theme “Investing in the Future” and runs through October 27.

Qatar and the United Nations raised their flags at a ceremony in Doha on Saturday ahead of the formal opening. The event was attended by Minister of State for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sayed and UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno.

The forum brings together heads of state, ministers, senior officials, policymakers, chief executives, business leaders, investors, sovereign wealth fund executives, representatives of international organisations and specialists from around the world. Organisers describe it as a major platform for discussion of investment and development.

The flag-raising ceremony highlighted Doha’s role as host and Qatar’s participation in international dialogue and cooperation on the future of investment. Qatar previously hosted the 13th session of the UNCTAD conference in 2012, when the meeting was held in an Arab country for the first time.

Across three days, the programme is scheduled to examine changes reshaping global investment through 108 high-level sessions and dialogues featuring 406 speakers. The agenda is organised across eight thematic tracks, covering areas including artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, investment policy, sustainable finance and business, tourism and culture, climate and the environment, investment promotion and special economic zones.

The discussions are intended to produce practical ideas and initiatives that can support investment flows and cross-border partnerships as the global economy changes. The forum also seeks to turn identified opportunities into projects and investments.

P.M.Martin--SMC