DOHA: Microsoft is keen on accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation and productivity to create an agentic Qatar, said an official during the four-day Web Summit Qatar 2025.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Lana Khalaf, General Manager at Microsoft Qatar said “We are focusing on how we can create an agentic Qatar and drive an agentic world.”
Expounding on the three key pillars to drive innovation, she explained: “Our mission and vision of AI is very simple - how to empower every person with Copilot to drive productivity; every process with an AI agent to drive efficiency; and every organisation to utilise the power of AI in order to drive innovation.”
“This is what we are showcasing today at Microsoft and to show the power of this AI, in addition to the demos of the AI agents,” Khalaf said.
To demonstrate the power of AI, Microsoft is organising an AI race challenge between two people; one person using AI and the other without in order to take on the challenge to see who can deliver faster and better.
The official stressed that Microsoft is focused on accelerating AI and fostering innovation, which includes supporting startups and entrepreneurs with cutting-edge technologies to fuel creativity and drive progress, from Qatar to the global stage. “Our commitment is clear: to back startups and entrepreneurs while promoting innovation across all sectors,” she said.
She also highlighted Microsoft Qatar’s role in enabling a digital economy in the country, in addition to driving towards an AI-knowledge-based sustainable economy.
A recent study by the tech giant revealed the impact it brings for the country using AI and GenAI. Microsoft is poised to generate $5.6bn towards the economy and an increase of 13,000 jobs in the Qatari market by 2030. The study also shows that for every $1, any organisation that invests in AI and Gen AI with Microsoft will see a return of 5.5 times more in their entity.
During the Web Summit, Microsoft signed a significant announcement that shapes the future of AI by partnering with the Ministry of Communications and Technology.
“This is a major milestone for Microsoft and Qatar, where we have announced bringing Azure OpenAI and the new GPUs to the Microsoft data center in Qatar to fuel innovation across every customer and every organisation in Qatar and beyond,” Khalaf added.
