DOHA, QATAR — The third edition of Web Summit Qatar has officially sold out, with Issam Hijazi, the Palestinian founder of Upscrolled, announced as an Opening Night speaker. Web Summit reported that the event reached full capacity after Hijazi’s involvement was revealed, sparking a dramatic surge in ticket sales.
The tech and business community is buzzing in anticipation of Hijazi’s first public engagement since his social networking platform, Upscrolled, became the most downloaded app in the US and globally. The event will be held in Doha on Sunday evening, where Hijazi will address a crowd of over 30,000 attendees.
Upscrolled’s Meteoric Rise
Upscrolled has been making waves in the tech industry, with its mission to fight censorship, shadow-banning, and clickbait often employed by Big Tech platforms. The app recently surged to #1 free app status on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with its user numbers skyrocketing from 150,000 to over 1 million in just a week. This surge followed one of several outages at TikTok, which has sparked criticism of content moderation policies, particularly in the US, where users claimed their ability to discuss sensitive topics was being curtailed.
A Record-Breaking Web Summit in Qatar
The rapid growth of Upscrolled and Hijazi’s increasing global prominence played a key role in the Web Summit Qatar 2026 selling out. The event will host more than 30,000 attendees, including founders, investors, policymakers, and technologists from 120 countries.
Since its first edition in 2024, which attracted 15,000 attendees, the Web Summit has grown exponentially, now drawing a record number of participants and stakeholders. This year, 1,600 startups and 900 investors are set to attend, including General Partners at leading firms like Amino Capital, Greycroft, B Capital, and Initialized Capital.
Major Global Companies and Renowned Speakers
The event floor at Web Summit Qatar has been sold out since the beginning of the year, with global tech giants like IBM, Microsoft, Huawei, and Qatar Airways confirmed as partners. The lineup of speakers features high-profile figures such as:
- Larry Li, three-time Forbes Midas Lister and Managing Partner at Amino Capital
- Mati Staniszewski, Co-Founder at Elevenlabs
- Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, Chairperson at Qatar Foundation
- Eduardo Saverin, Co-founder of B Capital and Facebook
- Colin Kaepernick, Founder & CEO at Lumi
- Yanis Varoufakis, Economist & Former Greek Finance Minister
- Logan Paul, YouTuber and Wrestler
- Abir El Saghir, Creator and Influencer
This diverse range of speakers further highlights the event’s global significance, blending technology, investment, and social impact.
Why Web Summit Qatar is Important
Web Summit Qatar 2026 has become a vital meeting point for the world’s leading innovators and thought leaders in the technology and startup sectors. With the inclusion of Issam Hijazi and his Upscrolled platform, this year’s summit promises to push the boundaries of tech discourse, addressing critical issues such as content moderation, data privacy, and the future of social networks.
As global attention focuses on Doha, Web Summit Qatar continues to cement its position as a crucial hub for the tech world, with its ability to attract the brightest minds from across the globe.
