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Global investment leaders to gather in Doha For World Investment Forum 2026


Media Alert
For use of information media - Not an official record
UNCTAD/PRESS/MA/2026/008

Heads of State, ministers, CEOs and sovereign wealth leaders meet to address investment amid global uncertainty, 25–27 October


Geneva, Switzerland, 9 September 2026

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in partnership with the State of Qatar, will convene the ninth World Investment Forum (WIF) under the theme “Investing in the Future”. As geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and rapid technological change reshape global investment, the Forum will examine how investment can support sustainable development and build resilience amid heightened uncertainty.

  • WHAT: The WIF is the United Nations’ flagship event for the global investment community, bringing together those who shape investment policy with those who allocate capital.
  • WHO: Heads of State, ministers, CEOs, sovereign wealth leaders, government officials, international organizations, investment authorities, investors, entrepreneurs and financial institutions.
  • WHEN: 25–27 October 2026, Sheraton Convention Center, Doha, Qatar.

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026, global foreign direct investment rose 6 percent to $1.6 trillion in 2025, ending two years of decline. But more than 80 percent was concentrated in just 20 of the largest economies, showing that the recovery remains uneven. Holding the Forum in Qatar affirms the region’s role as a global investment crossroads.

More than 70 sessions will cover AI, critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, sustainable finance, tourism and culture, and emerging investment opportunities, including in the space economy. They include Global Leaders Plenaries, Ministerial Roundtables, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Dialogue, a high-level session on investment in the Gulf region and a global investment promotion conference.

  • Interviews and photo opportunities with UNCTAD and Forum speakers are available on request. Sessions will be livestreamed, with daily multimedia content for onsite coverage.
  • Register here to attend. Full programme and information: worldinvestmentforum.unctad.org .

Notes to Editors

For more information and to arrange interviews with leaders and experts, please contact: Marcelo Risi, UNCTAD Communications and External Relations, Office of the Secretary-General, +41 76 691 18 74, [email protected].


About UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

UNCTAD is the UN’s leading body on trade and development. Founded in 1964, it supports 195 member states with expert analysis, technical assistance, and serves as a platform for intergovernmental dialogue. UNCTAD helps developing countries make trade, finance, investment, and the digital economy work for inclusive and sustainable development.

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