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Qatar To Host Mobile World Congress For Next 5 Years
This will be the first time the tech event has been held in the MENA region, and will help to drive digital innovation and attract investment to Qatar.

Qatar has secured hosting rights to hold the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Doha for the next five years. The news marks a significant milestone, as it’s the first time the prestigious event will be held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The official agreement was signed in Barcelona by Qatar’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, H. E. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, and John Hoffman, CEO of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), during the MWC 2025 event.
دولة #قطر تعلن استضافتها النسخ الخمس المقبلة للمؤتمر العالمي للهواتف المحمولة#قنا https://t.co/crM4Pt4vSn pic.twitter.com/n7EGysFx0v
— وكالة الأنباء القطرية (@QatarNewsAgency) March 4, 2025
Minister Al Mannai highlighted that MWC Doha will serve as a global meeting point for industry leaders and experts, fostering collaboration and innovation:
“This milestone reflects our commitment to accelerating the adoption of digital solutions and enhancing our leadership in the ICT sector. Hosting this event represents a strategic opportunity to attract investments and support the implementation of the Digital Agenda 2030. This event will enhance collaboration among leading sector companies, opening new horizons for growth and innovation in the region,” Al Mannai stated.
The premiere edition of MWC Doha is scheduled for November 25–26, 2025. The event will showcase the latest developments in mobile technology, AI, financial technology, and smart connectivity. Additionally, discussions will cover key issues such as digital inclusion, sustainability, and emerging technologies, offering a valuable platform for networking and knowledge sharing.
GSMA CEO John Hoffman expressed his enthusiasm for the event, saying, “We are delighted to welcome MWC25 Doha to our world-renowned MWC Series. Our vision is for MWC Doha to become integral to Qatar’s emerging role as a global hub for digital innovation, showcasing the Middle East’s digital transformation across AI, advanced 5G, and smart mobility”.
Hosting MWC Doha is expected to have a positive economic impact on Qatar, drawing thousands of attendees, including top executives, industry experts, and investors from across the world. This influx is anticipated to drive economic growth, promote international cooperation, and highlight the capabilities of Qatari and regional tech firms.
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Furthermore, the event is poised to attract foreign investment by providing global investors with firsthand insight into Qatar’s business-friendly environment. With its advanced infrastructure and supportive regulatory landscape, the country is positioning itself as a prime destination for digital ventures and entrepreneurship. Additionally, MWC Doha is expected to facilitate strategic partnerships between Qatari and international companies, further cementing Qatar’s reputation as a regional and global tech powerhouse.
GSMA currently organizes multiple regional editions of Mobile World Congress to promote digital advancement worldwide, including MWC Shanghai, MWC Las Vegas, and MWC Kigali. MWC Barcelona remains the flagship event, drawing over 101,000 attendees from 205 countries, along with more than 2,700 exhibitors.
News
Stake Powers Instant Payouts With Checkout.com Pay To Card
The new feature lets investors in the UAE, KSA, and UK receive real estate returns in minutes — cutting withdrawal times to under 10 minutes.

Stake, a leading digital real estate investment platform, has unveiled Pay to Card, a next-generation withdrawal feature built on Checkout.com’s global payment infrastructure. The integration enables investors to have dividends and returns credited directly to their bank cards — often within minutes — dramatically reducing the traditional multi-day payout process.
After a successful pilot in May involving over 200 users, some investors reported receiving their funds in under 10 minutes. Ricardo Brizido, CPTO and Co-Founder of Stake, emphasized the importance of speed and reliability: “With Pay to Card, we’re eliminating unnecessary delays and putting returns in our investors’ hands almost instantly. This feature was built to directly solve one of the most common pain points in real estate investing, and it’s already driving strong results”.
The feature launch coincides with rapid growth in real-time finance across the Middle East. Checkout.com’s “State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2025” report highlights a 388% year-on-year surge in Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) in the UAE, reflecting strong demand for immediate payout solutions. The same study recorded a 176% increase in total processing volume from 2023 to 2024 and noted that daily online transactions have jumped 320% since 2020.
Since its 2021 debut, Stake has facilitated over AED 1 billion in property transactions, advancing its mission to democratize real estate investment in high-growth markets. By integrating Pay to Card, Stake reinforces its commitment to customer-centric innovation and operational transparency.
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Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, praised the collaboration: “Stake has always led with customer-first financial experiences. Together, we’re meeting the expectations of a region that is no longer just digital-first, but real-time-first. Pay to Card exemplifies how modern payment infrastructure can directly solve investor pain points”.
Pay to Card is now available to all Stake users in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. By slashing withdrawal times from days to minutes, Stake and Checkout.com are setting a new standard for seamless, on-demand real estate investing.