GSMA MWC26 Doha welcomed over 10,000 attendees, as world-first ITU co-location puts MENA at the centre of global connectivity policy and innovation

MWC26 Doha brought together senior industry leaders, policymakers and regulators for three days of exhibition, discussion, networking and dealmaking in Doha
The GSMA Ministerial Programme hosted a record 36 Ministers and 34 Heads of National Regulatory Authorities
10 November 2026, Doha: MWC26 Doha closed today as over 10,000 attendees from 100 countries and territories convened in Qatar, proving the scale and ambition of the Middle East and North Africa’s digital growth and transformation. Across three days of keynote sessions, conferences, and summits, and hosted in partnership with the State of Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), delegates explored how embedded intelligence, next-generation infrastructure and national digital strategies are reshaping the Middle East and North Africa’s role in the global connectivity ecosystem.
In a first-of-its-kind co-location, MWC26 Doha ran alongside the opening days of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26). PP-26 is the principal governing body of the ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies. Held every four years, it serves as the highest decision-making body to determine ITU’s strategic and financial plans, elect its leadership, and set its overall direction. Together, the two events united industry leaders, policymakers and innovators to explore critical digital issues transforming society.
Sianne Ryder, CEO, Events and Industry Services, GSMA Ltd, said: “This week at MWC26 Doha, policymakers and regulators sat side by side with industry leaders and innovators to debate, connect and shape MENA’s digital future. Co-locating with the opening days of ITU PP-26 created something unique: a place where those setting the global digital agenda could engage directly with the operators, technology companies and investors bringing it to life. The result was sharper conversations, stronger connections and a clearer path from policy to progress. We look forward to seeing the partnerships forged in Doha deliver impact across the region and beyond. Thank you to everyone who joined us – and especially to our hosts at MCIT.”
MWC26 Doha in numbers:
Over 10,000 unique attendees from 100 countries and territories
14% C-suite attendees, 37% director level and above
62% of attendees representing industries adjacent to the core mobile ecosystem
The GSMA Ministerial Programme convened 86 delegations, including 36 Ministers and 34 Heads of National Regulatory Authorities. In total, 74 countries and 12 intergovernmental organisations were represented
195 speakers across keynote sessions, summits and partner programmes
~100 exhibitors, sponsors and partners across the show floor, parallel to ITU PP-26
42 partnerships and announcements signed in the Announcement Lounge
More than 220 media, content creators and industry analysts on-site
Showcasing MENA’s digital transformation
On the GSMA Pavillion, Ooredoo Qatar, Ericsson, Eonetics, Hikvision and GSMA Fusion demonstrated how advanced mobile connectivity can support emergency response. The 5G Connectivity for Emergency Response demo linked Eonetics’ tethered drone in Melbourne with the GSMA Pavilion in Doha, more than 12,000 kilometres away.
The GSMA launched its AI for Impact (AI4I) MENA Initiative, which aims to bring together mobile operators, governments, international organisations, academia and private sector partners to develop and scale AI-powered services across the region. The initiative will support responsible and inclusive AI adoption through strategic partnerships and skills development.
The GSMA also signed agreements or announced collaborations with Khalifa University and AMD to bring radio frequency foundation models to telecom operators; with the ITU to accelerate trusted, open AI for telecoms; with Axonect to empower small businesses through operator-led digital marketplaces; with Applab to mark a five-year commitment to MWC Doha; with H.E. Minister of Digital Transition and Technology Innovation of Côte d’Ivoire to improve smartphone affordability in Côte d’Ivoire; and between GSMA Foundry and apoQlar to bring spatial computing to connected healthcare.
Attendees heard from visionary speakers including Accenture, Dell Technologies, Ericsson, Google, Huawei, the ITU, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Ooredoo, PwC Middle East, SandboxAQ, ServiceNow, VEON, Vodafone Qatar, and more. Exhibitors and sponsors across the show floor included Accenture, AGIBOT, Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, Es’hailSat, Google, HPE, Huawei, Internal Security Force Qatar, Microsoft, Oliver Wyman, Ooredoo, PwC, Qatar University, Scale, strategy&, Veon, Vodafone.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said: “MWC26 Doha remains a central part of our work to bring the mobile ecosystem together around the issues that matter most to its growth, from the global standards that keep networks working across borders to connecting the millions of people who remain offline. With connectivity and digital policy now vital to economic and social progress, this year’s event and our collaboration with Qatar bought regional priorities onto the global stage. The ambition and partnership we have seen in Doha have established a strong foundation, and we will continue to build on them so that digital progress reaches every community across MENA.”
On-demand access to keynote sessions and event highlights are available on the MWC Doha website, while you can access the latest news, updates, B-roll, and official photography via the MWC26 Doha Press Zone.
MWC26 Doha marks the final stop of the 2026 GSMA global event series. The GSMA now turns its attention to MWC27 Barcelona on 1-4 March 2027, with registration now open. We look forward to welcoming the region’s connectivity ecosystem back to Doha, from 15-17 November2027.