Visit Qatar has been recognised with the ICCA Innovation Leadership Award and will host the ICCA Middle East Summit 2027, marking another milestone for Qatar’s growing business events sector.

The achievements were announced during the ICCA Middle East Summit 2026, where Visit Qatar received the prestigious award in recognition of its contribution to the global business events industry. The award honours organisations that demonstrate excellence in innovation, sustainability, resilience, tourism transformation, and future-focused leadership while enhancing the competitiveness of destinations across the region.

During the summit, Visit Qatar also signed a partnership agreement with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) to host the ICCA Middle East Summit 2027 in Qatar. The agreement was formalised during an official signing ceremony attended by ICCA leadership and industry stakeholders.

Commenting on the announcement, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Qatar, said that hosting the ICCA Middle East Summit 2027 reflects the strong confidence international partners place in Qatar’s world-class infrastructure, operational capabilities, and proven ability to deliver major events.

Scheduled for 17–18 March 2027, the ICCA Middle East Summit will bring together international association representatives, convention bureaux, venues, professional conference organisers, and business events leaders from across the region and beyond. The event will provide a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and discussions on the future of the global meetings and conventions industry.

The announcement follows Qatar’s strong performance in the 2025 ICCA Country and City Rankings, where the country ranked third in the Middle East for hosting international association meetings and congresses. Doha also secured third place among regional destinations, behind Dubai and Abu Dhabi, highlighting Qatar’s growing appeal for international business events.

ICCA also reported that international association meetings grew by around 22 percent globally in 2025, while the Middle East recorded growth of approximately 45 percent, further reinforcing the region’s increasing importance as a hub for business events.

These developments underline Visit Qatar’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s meetings and conventions ecosystem, attract high-profile international gatherings, and reinforce Qatar’s reputation as a destination capable of hosting events of global significance.