Doha is set to host the ninth United Nations World Investment Forum (WIF) from October 25 to 27, 2026, drawing global policymakers, investors, business leaders, international financial institutions, and investment authorities for discussions on investment’s role in sustainable development amid shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes. The event, convened biennially by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in partnership with the State of Qatar, will be held under the theme “Investing in the Future.”

UNCTAD officials highlighted Qatar’s expanding role as an international investment hub and a neutral platform for global dialogue as key factors behind its selection as host. This will be the second time Doha has held the forum, following its previous hosting in 2017. Organizers noted Qatar’s strategic location as an international transport hub, its open investment environment, and its capacity to connect governments, capital, and private sector actors.

The three-day forum will focus on multiple sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, sustainable finance, tourism, culture, and notably, the emerging space economy—a new addition to the WIF agenda. The space economy session, organized with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, aims to explore how countries can develop this sector, attract investment, and foster international cooperation to broaden participation beyond current leading nations.

AI will also be a significant topic, with discussions addressing investment in AI infrastructure, adoption of applications, and opportunities for developing economies in the technology’s evolving landscape. Sustainable investment will form a central pillar, featuring dialogues on sustainability standards, corporate governance, and preparation for sustainable listings, including engagement with stock exchanges and companies.

The forum’s agenda will include Global Leaders Plenaries, Ministerial Roundtables on investment and entrepreneurship, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Dialogue, a high-level session on Gulf region investment, and a global promotion conference showcasing investment opportunities worldwide. The event seeks to facilitate concrete partnerships by connecting ministers, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and the private sector.

Qatar’s growing investment ecosystem is underscored by the involvement of key national institutions such as the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Financial Centre, Qatar Stock Exchange, Qatar Foundation, and Qatar Museums, which contribute to the forum’s programme on innovation, culture, and future investment opportunities. The Qatar Investment Authority, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, plays a vital role given its extensive international activities.

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026, released ahead of the forum, global foreign direct investment (FDI) rebounded by 6 percent in 2025 to $1.6 trillion after two years of decline. However, the recovery remains uneven and concentrated, with over 80 percent of global FDI flowing to the 20 largest economies. Investment in developing economies grew modestly by 2 percent. Strategic sectors such as advanced technologies, critical minerals, energy-transition technologies, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure now account for 44 percent of global greenfield investment projects, a marked increase from 16 percent in 2020.

FDI in infrastructure and semiconductors rose by 11 percent each, while digital economy investment surged nearly 50 percent in 2025. Reflecting this shift, governments are adopting more strategic approaches to attracting foreign capital, with a rise in targeted incentives and increased national screening of FDI proposals, growing from 21 countries in 2016 to 52 in 2025.

The forum will also focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which has seen its share of global FDI increase sixfold over the past decade to roughly 6 percent in 2025. The United Arab Emirates led the GCC in total FDI inflows in 2025, followed by Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar. While energy and gas remain leading sectors, the region’s investment profile is diversifying, with information and communications technology (ICT) investment approaching parity with traditional energy sectors and notable growth in extractive industries and automotive investments.

Organizers emphasized the forum's timing amid ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties, underscoring Doha's role as a venue that promotes openness to investment, collaboration, and sustained development in the Gulf and beyond. At the time of the announcement, about 20 ministers and several heads of international organizations had confirmed attendance, with participation expected from representatives of over 100 countries based on previous editions of the World Investment Forum.