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IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth

The move is a significant step for the company as it deepens its presence in a market with huge growth potential.

Published

2 years ago

December 16, 2024

ibm opens new doha office to support qatar's digital growth

IBM has officially opened its new office in Al Mana Tower, situated in Doha’s Corniche area. The inauguration ceremony was attended by key figures, including H.E. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Qatar’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, U.S. Ambassador Timmy Davis, and IBM executives Shukri Eid and Wissam Shmait. Local business partners and clients also joined the event, which took place during the Qatar Global AI Summit.

This new office marks a significant step in IBM’s strategy to deepen its presence in Qatar — a market with tremendous potential for growth. With the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Digital Agenda 2030 shaping the country’s ambitions, IBM aims to contribute to Qatar’s ongoing digital transformation by delivering cutting-edge solutions and advisory services directly from its Doha base.

Speaking about this development, Sami Mohammed Al Shammari, Assistant Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Operations Affairs at Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, emphasized the importance of IBM’s role. “We are pleased to witness the expansion of IBM’s presence in the State of Qatar and its role in supporting our journey towards building an advanced digital future,” he said. He described the move as more than a commercial investment, highlighting its potential to empower key industries and foster stronger collaboration between Qatar’s public and private sectors. He added that this partnership aligns with the country’s vision of building a robust digital infrastructure and advancing a knowledge-based economy.

Also Read: SWITCH Mobility To Trial New E-Buses In UAE & Saudi Arabia In 2025

IBM’s regional leader, Shukri Eid, echoed these sentiments. “The opening of our new office in Qatar reflects IBM’s commitment to supporting the country’s accelerated digital transformation journey,” he said. He underscored IBM’s focus on driving innovation and equipping clients with advanced technological solutions to help realize Qatar’s digital ambitions.

The new office not only strengthens IBM’s ties with local businesses and government entities but also positions the tech corporation as a key player in the ongoing development of Qatar’s digital ecosystem. By fostering innovation and driving technological adoption, IBM will be ideally poised to play a central role in the country’s broader goals for digital advancement.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.