World Investment Forum opens in Doha amid shifting global investment trends

Political leaders, UN officials, and investors gathered in Doha for the opening of the UN World Investment Forum, amid concerns over uneven global investment flows, shifting supply chains, and economic uncertainty.The ninth UN World Investment Forum opened at the Sheraton Grand Doha on Sunday, returning to Qatar 14 years after the country hosted the third edition in 2012.Hosted by Qatar in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the three-day forum runs until Tuesday, 27 October, under the theme “Investing in the Future”. It brings together more than 5,000 participants to discuss global investment trends, development priorities, and emerging opportunities across the global economy.Ahead of the opening ceremony, Hamad Muhammad Al Nasr, Director of Trade Development and Investment Promotion at Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, described the forum as a platform for exchanging expertise, exploring opportunities, and discussing the future of investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).UNCTAD’s head of communications and external relations, Marcelo Risi, said governments were increasingly prioritising strategic industries and national economic interests, prompting companies to reassess their supply chains, production locations and exposure to risk.Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attended the opening alongside visiting leaders and senior officials.In a post on X, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the role of international forums in strengthening cooperation amid regional and global economic challenges.“We hope the World Investment Forum in Doha will help shape visions and solutions that support the future of investment and the global economy,” he said.Amid regional and global developments and their economic impact, international forums foster cooperation to address challenges. We hope the World Investment Forum in Doha will help shape visions and solutions that support the future of investment and the global economy. pic.twitter.com/ka7pPXaDvR— محمد بن عبدالرحمن (@MBA_AlThani_) October 25, 2026 Investment, trust and shifting marketsOpening the forum, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed said the country was working to strengthen supply chains, expand export markets and attract investment in emerging sectors.He highlighted investment programmes targeting logistics, digital and financial services and referenced Qatar’s previously announced $22.5 billion pipeline of hospitality and real-estate opportunities, describing Doha as a launchpad for global investment.“Markets are no longer discovered, they are decided,” Acting UNCTAD Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno said during the opening ceremony.UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, who is on special leave, placed trust at the centre of investment decisions.“To invest is to trust that a contract will be honoured, that another country’s investments are worth building alongside your own,” she said.On the sidelines of the forum, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised Qatar and the Gulf for their “fortitude and resilience” in managing global value chains.Speaking to Doha News, Okonjo-Iweala urged the region to continue supporting open, rules-based multilateral trade, particularly for the benefit of smaller countries.The forum continues until Tuesday 27 October, with discussions covering artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, sustainable finance, tourism, climate, investment promotion and special economic zones.