The region’s first Innovation by Design Summit kicked off yesterday (April 24) in Doha, bringing together more than 400 thought leaders, innovators and delegates at Msheireb’s Doha Design District.
The event, organised by Msheireb Properties and Fast Company Middle East, also marked the debut of the Msheireb Award for Innovation in Design. A summit highlight, this prestigious accolade honours four winners and underscores Msheireb Properties’ proactive role in shaping the trajectory of design innovation across the Middle East.
The award covers four categories: human-centered, technology-powered, sustainable, and luxury lifestyle design, all aimed at celebrating groundbreaking achievements and inspiring future creativity.
Msheireb Properties CEO, engineer Ali al-Kuwari, led the opening of the event and stressed Qatar’s leadership in design excellence, saying: “I'm proud to be here today in the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha to say that Qatar is leading the way in design across its many aspects. Smart, sustainable design is the future, and it's something we’re proud to champion.”
Ravi Raman, publisher of Fast Company Middle East, echoed al-Kuwari’s view and underscored the importance of design thinking in driving positive societal change.
“Organisations and governments are realising the positive impact design thinking can bring. Our mandate at Fast Company Middle East is to highlight this with storytelling and impactful summits,” Raman said.
The summit featured various design topics, ranging from biophilic design to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation. Discussions also included urban planning’s role in fostering people-centric cities, the fusion of technology and creativity, and the burgeoning experience economy and Gen Z preferences.
Speaking to reporters on the summit's sidelines, Msheireb Properties’ Corporate Communications senior director Dr Hafiz Ali Abdulla underlined the summit’s significance as a platform for global knowledge exchange.
He said the event shed light on the transformative impact of emerging technologies such as AI on design processes and the importance of fostering a collaborative ecosystem.
“Msheireb has a great knowledge and wealth to share to the world by designing the first sustainable smart city (a regeneration project) in the region, and for us, we want to share our knowledge and also bring other expertise on innovation and design, so many different aspects.
“We feel that it (summit) is a great platform in bringing ideas and people who can contribute; and for innovators from Qatar and around the globe, to participate,” he said.
About the award, Dr Abdulla expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to recognise and celebrate innovative endeavours, encouraging companies and individuals to participate in shaping the future of design excellence.
In addition to featuring esteemed Qatari innovators, the summit showcased local talent, with Dana Alfardan captivating audiences with her latest compositions and Hamad al-Amari adding flair to the event with his entertaining performance.
