Reflections from Web Summit Qatar 2025: Key Takeaways & Industry Insights

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Web Summit Qatar 2025, a milestone event for the tech and digital industries in the GCC. Having previously attended the flagship Web Summit Lisbon in 2019, I was eager to see how the region would showcase its innovation and thought leadership on a global stage. While the event provided a wealth of networking opportunities and engaging discussions, it also highlighted areas where improvements could be made to deliver a more seamless experience for attendees.

A Challenging Start but a Promising Platform

My Web Summit experience began with an unexpected challenge, crowd management. Despite arriving early for the opening ceremony, long queues outside the venue meant I had to watch the event from the Night Summit area instead. While this was disappointing, it underscored the enthusiasm surrounding the event and the strong demand for platforms that bring together industry leaders, investors, and innovators in the region.

AI Dominates the Agenda but What Is Next?

Unsurprisingly, AI was the dominant theme throughout the summit, with many sessions exploring how brands have used AI for efficiency and productivity. Paul Smith from ServiceNow captured this well explaining how they managed to optimise their customer service and employee services by reducing internal SLAs from 4 days to only 8 seconds! 

However, I couldn’t help but feel that much of the discussion revolved around confirming existing applications rather than presenting truly groundbreaking predictions for the future. The key question remains: where does AI go from here?

Notable Talks and Key Takeaways

While AI took centre stage, several sessions stood out for their fresh perspectives:

• Alexis Ohanian’s Vision for Women’s Sports: The Reddit co-founder shared his passion for the future of women’s sports, highlighting investments in Angel City FC and initiatives like ATHLOS. His insights reinforced the idea that women’s sports are not just a trend but a transformative movement.
• The Global AI Race: With AI continuing to dominate venture capital and media landscapes, Alexandr Wang (Scale AI CEO) explored how China’s AI advancements and regulatory shifts could reshape the global economy.
• Snapchat’s AR Evolution: The session on Snapchat’s AR innovations showcased how immersive technology is redefining user engagement, with exciting applications beyond social media. I even managed to experience their latest product ‘Spectacles’ which gave me an immersive experience into the real world. I really enjoyed how it uses machine learning as a guide to improve practical training skills, and how collaborative the product has become. 
• Building the Workforce of the Future: Dr. Guy Diedrich (Cisco Systems) shared insights on how businesses can adapt to technological advancements without sidelining their workforce. As AI becomes embedded in day-to-day operations, the focus should not be on replacing people but on empowering them to work smarter. A key takeaway from this session was the quote: “Turn employees into super-humans, don’t eliminate them”, a powerful reminder that technology should enhance human potential rather than diminish it.
• Marketing Trends for 2025: Looking ahead, emerging platforms and AI-driven insights are set to reshape how brands connect with audiences.
• Will Smith & Jay Shetty on Redefining Success: One of the most engaging sessions was Will Smith’s conversation with Jay Shetty, where he shared personal reflections on resilience, creativity, and handling challenges. I never imagined I’d have the chance to be in such a close audience, but his presence and wisdom were undeniable. He had an incredible ability to engage with the entire room, answering questions in a way that felt personal and meaningful. One particular insight that stood out to me was a people management tactic he shared—his company’s CEO starts every internal meeting by asking each team member to describe their current emotional state using a simple colour system: Green, Yellow, or Red. Without requiring an explanation, this allows leadership to gauge how their team is feeling and adapt their approach accordingly. A simple yet brilliant way to foster empathy and understanding in the workplace.
  
  

Conversations and Future Collaborations

Beyond the conference sessions, Web Summit Qatar proved to be an excellent platform for connecting with industry leaders and exploring new opportunities. Discussions ranged from digital transformation and programmatic advertising to place-making strategies and investment in tech innovation. It was particularly valuable to engage with organisations looking to enhance their marketing and communications strategies, whether through expanding digital capabilities, shaping student enrolment initiatives, or refining their approach to brand engagement. Reconnecting with familiar faces also reinforced the strength of existing relationships, and it was insightful to see how businesses are evolving in response to emerging industry trends. With the region positioning itself as a hub for innovation, these conversations highlighted the growing demand for expertise in navigating digital transformation, building engagement, and driving strategic growth.

Final Thoughts: The GCC’s Growing Role in Global Tech

Despite the logistical challenges, Web Summit Qatar demonstrated the region’s growing ambition to position itself as a global tech and innovation hub. While AI dominated the conversation, the real opportunity lies in what is next—the future of workforce transformation, AR advancements, and the evolving digital marketing landscape.

As the GCC continues to make its mark on the global stage, events like Web Summit Qatar play a vital role in driving innovation, encouraging collaboration, and shaping the next wave of digital transformation. I look forward to seeing how the insights and connections gained from this summit translate into impactful projects in the months ahead.

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