Al Fikra has been operated over the past years by Qatar Development Bank, the launch of the National
Entrepreneurship Competition (Al Fikra) dates back to 2013, when the first version of the competition
was launched as a joint initiative between Enterprise Qatar, the MIT Enterprise Forum, Silatech, and
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, with the aim of fostering and developing entrepreneurs in the
country. Over the years, Al Fikra gained interest from entrepreneurs, sponsors, the business community
and various supporters making it the biggest and most anticipated entrepreneurship competition in
Qatar.
The competition seeks to:
1. Foster a collaborative community of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders within higher
education.
2. Enhance entrepreneurial knowledge and competencies.
3. Provide pathways for university communities to advance their ideas and innovations into tangible
socio-economic value.
4. Support the growth of Qatar's private sector by encouraging the creation of innovative,
technology-driven, and deep-tech startups.
5. Connect the most promising startups with international markets, partners, and opportunities.
Qatar University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Qatar
Development Bank, Qatar International Islamic Bank, A-typical Ventures, and the Hult Prize Foundation,
is pleased to organize Al Fikra 2026 - The National Entrepreneurship Competition (Higher Education
Edition).
The application period for this year's competition has now closed.620 applicants , representing
220 teams from around 20 institutions across Qatar, submitted proposals.