Qatar-Ukraine tech committee targets startup growth

Daria Revina, co‑founder and vice‑chair of the Qatar‑Ukraine Business Forum (QUBF), said the forum has launched a Qatar‑Ukraine Tech & Innovation Committee to accelerate startup growth and commercial collaboration between the two countries. Announced during Web Summit Qatar 2026, the initiative includes a newly stated partnership with Doha delivery and logistics platform Snoonu — led by founder and CEO Hamad al‑Hajri, who is also a QUBF board member — and links to Ukraine’s Unit.City innovation hub and early‑stage investor activity through X2 Ventures targeting Ukrainian robotics.

“Ukraine has long been strong in Information Technology (IT), ranking among the ‘top five globally in terms of graduates and expertise,’” Revina said, outlining the rationale for the committee and the focus areas the group will pursue.

Revina described a rapid evolution of Ukraine’s tech base since 2022, noting that “in recent years, driven by necessity, Ukraine has also emerged as a leader in defence technology and drone innovation—transforming from a virtually nonexistent domestic drone industry in 2022 to an exporter of advanced solutions abroad.” She said that this technical depth aligns with Qatar’s ambitions to diversify its economy and build a knowledge‑based tech and startup ecosystem.

The QUBF‑led committee is intended as a platform to connect government and private sector partners from both countries, exploring collaboration in artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and cybersecurity. Revina emphasised the role of Unit.City, describing it as “the largest tech and innovation hub in Eastern Europe. It is often described as the region’s Silicon Valley,” and said QUBF will leverage that network to engage innovators in joint projects and challenges.

• Qatar‑Ukraine Business Forum (QUBF)
• Unit.City (Ukraine)
• Snoonu (founder & CEO: Hamad al‑Hajri)
• X2 Ventures (Hamad al‑Hajri’s newly formed venture capital vehicle)

On the commercial front, Revina highlighted a Web Summit Qatar 2026 announcement that pairs QUBF with Snoonu and noted Hamad al‑Hajri’s involvement beyond Snoonu: “His newly‑formed venture capital, X2 Ventures, is investing in Ukrainian robotics, reflecting his belief that talent is the foundation of innovation. Together, this collaboration supports Qatar’s vision for automation and robotics while connecting it to Ukraine’s cutting‑edge expertise.”

Revina pointed to specific sectoral opportunities where Ukrainian solutions could be deployed in Qatar, including warehousing and logistics, where automation and robotics could “reduce reliance on imported labour.” Cybersecurity is also a major priority: “Ukraine has some of the most advanced expertise globally. We’ve identified promising Ukrainian cybersecurity startups and are currently working to raise funding for them here in Qatar,” she said.

While Revina said some partnership details remain under negotiation, she set out a clear next step: relocating selected Ukrainian cybersecurity and tech firms to Qatar. “While details are still in process and cannot yet be disclosed, the goal is to relocate these companies to Qatar, where they can establish themselves and use the country as a launch pad for global expansion,” she said, indicating the committee will pursue funding, commercial pilots and regulatory coordination to enable that transition.

The committee’s formation and the early commitments from private actors such as Snoonu and X2 Ventures mark an initial push to translate Ukraine’s technical strength into deployable solutions for Qatar’s market and to build a bridge for startups seeking capital and regional scale.