The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a pioneering “AI Agent Factory” — a digital platform that will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) across government services in a bid to modernise bureaucracy and boost efficiency. The initiative, announced on Friday, marks one of the Gulf state’s most ambitious steps yet in harnessing AI to transform how citizens and businesses interact with public institutions. The platform will enable the ministry to rapidly develop and deploy intelligent AI agents — automated systems capable of handling tasks ranging from processing applications to answering queries — without the lengthy development cycles traditionally associated with government IT projects. Built on Microsoft’s technology infrastructure, the factory is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing government systems whilst allowing new AI-powered services to be rolled out across multiple departments.Ahmed al-Kuwari, director of the ministry’s Information Systems Department, described the launch as a “pivotal step” towards comprehensive automation of government operations. “Leveraging advanced AI technologies will enhance operational efficiency, support decision-making, expand the scope of smart services, and improve their overall quality,” he said. The AI Agent Factory represents the latest in a series of government initiatives to embed artificial intelligence across Qatar’s public sector. In recent months, various ministries have rolled out automated document processing systems, and predictive analytics tools designed to anticipate citizen needs before they arise. The government has also established dedicated AI governance frameworks and invested in training programmes to upskill civil servants in working alongside intelligent systems. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has been piloting AI traffic management systems, whilst the Ministry of Public Health has deployed machine learning algorithms to streamline appointment scheduling and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities. To Page 5 The platform represents more than just a technical upgrade. By enabling faster deployment of AI solutions, officials hope to create a unified experience for users across different government touchpoints — eliminating the fragmented service delivery that often plagues public sector organisations. Ahmed Dandashi, general manager of Microsoft Qatar, said the partnership would “accelerate digital transformation and deliver sustainable impact for institutions, the business sector, and society.” The ministry indicated that once technical and regulatory frameworks are finalised, it will work with Microsoft to expand the platform’s capabilities and introduce additional AI-powered services in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.The move comes as Gulf nations race to position themselves as regional leaders in artificial intelligence adoption, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia also investing heavily in AI infrastructure and governance frameworks.

Tech leaders unveiled initiatives aimed at strengthening Palestine’s digital ecosystem, positioning technology as a tool for long-term economic empowerment and regional collaboration, during the recently concluded Web Summit Qatar 2026.From incubating ethical tech startups to launching a cross-border talent bridge, Paul Biggar, CEO of Tech for Palestine, and Rand Safi, Senior Programme manager at Gaza Sky Geeks, outlined structured efforts to support Palestinian innovation beyond traditional advocacy.Biggar, founder of Tech for Palestine and previously of Darklang and CircleCI, described his organisation as “an initiative that supports Palestinian liberation”, adding that its goal is “to create and support projects to have a massive ecosystem that is supporting Palestine.”He revealed that one of the incubator’s projects, Upscrolled, gained significant traction at the summit. “This has been a very exciting Web Summit because one of our projects just broke away and became huge overnight. They are the talk of Web Summit,” he said.Tech for Palestine supports a wide spectrum of initiatives, ranging from consumer-focused boycott applications, such as Boycat to platforms encouraging divestment strategies. The incubator also backs projects offering what Biggar described as “ethical alternatives” to major technology platforms.“Only about 15% of our projects are startups,” he explained, noting that many initiatives focus on privacy, environmental responsibility and social justice. He encouraged founders to “make an alternative...that is privacy focused and pro-the-environment and pro-justice.”Meanwhile, Gaza Sky Geeks, a Mercy Corps Palestine programme, announced the launch of the GCC–Palestine Talent Bridge, aimed at directly connecting Palestinian tech professionals with opportunities in the Gulf.“We’re happy to launch the GCC Palestine Talent Bridge at Web Summit Qatar,” Safi said. The initiative enables companies and professionals in the GCC to mentor Palestinian talent, hire them remotely, or host them as virtual interns.“We are looking forward to this collaboration and... the applications that we will be receiving to support the Palestinian tech ecosystem,” she added.Together, the initiatives signal a shift from awareness-building to structured ecosystem development, embedding Palestinian talent and tech innovation into regional and global markets.