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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.
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.
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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.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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