Qatar Investment Authority to Expand Venture Capital Programme to $3B

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), will add $2 billion to its Fund of Funds venture capital programme, taking total commitments to $3 billion. The expansion was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and reflects a growing policy focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and non‑energy growth.

Launched with $1 billion and managed by QIA, the Fund of Funds does not invest directly in startups. Instead, it allocates capital to regional and international venture capital firms, with those firms expected to establish operations in Qatar and deploy capital locally over time. The programme places a priority focus on the tech and healthcare sectors and is designed to attract fund managers and entrepreneurs to build a sustained venture capital base in the country.

Alongside the funding increase, Qatar announced a new long‑term residency programme granting 10‑year permits to entrepreneurs and senior executives, intended to provide stability for those building businesses in the local economy. The step sits within intensifying Gulf competition for capital, startups, and long‑term private investment.

Zooming out, Qatar’s moves mirror broader policy shifts in the region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have introduced extended residency schemes to attract skilled professionals and investors, part of a wider effort to diversify economies and anchor private‑sector growth. Within that landscape, QIA’s enlarged programme is structured to channel international venture capital into Qatar via established fund managers while tying that capital to on‑the‑ground activity.