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The organising committee for the Qatar International Exhibition and Conference for Medical Supplies and Healthcare announced that Qatar Development Bank will serve as development partner for the 2026 edition, which is projected to attract more than 20,000 specialist visitors and participation from around 150 local and international companies. QDB said in a statement that its role aligns with national efforts to develop an advanced, sustainable health sector able to meet rising domestic needs and adopt modern technologies and solutions. Khalifa Salman Al-Muhannadi, chairman of the organising committee, described the bank as one of the leading national institutions supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. “Qatar Development Bank is one of the most prominent national institutions supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, and this partnership will constitute a qualitative addition to the exhibition by supporting Qatari companies, enhancing investment opportunities, and opening new horizons for cooperation between the health and economic sectors,” Al-Muhannadi said. The event will feature pavilions from the United States, Italy, Turkey, China and GCC countries together with a scientific conference and workshops addressing medical technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and innovation.
Ahmed Hassan Al-Mohannadi, senior director of marketing and communications at Qatar Development Bank, said the participation extends the lender’s national mandate to back companies based in Qatar that operate in priority sectors with healthcare at the forefront. The bank’s statement positioned the partnership as part of wider initiatives to strengthen a health sector capable of addressing local demand while embracing cutting-edge advancements. Qatar Development Bank activated dedicated financing and advisory programmes for the health sector earlier in 2026 in coordination with the ministries of municipality, commerce and industry, and public health, according to its earlier disclosures. The lender has also partnered with Deerfield Management on a health technology accelerator linking New York and Doha to drive biomedical innovation.
Qatar’s hospital services market is projected to grow from $2.14 billion in 2024 to $3.61 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1 percent, Ken Research data shows. Across the GCC, total healthcare spending is forecast to reach $159 billion by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.8 percent, an Alpen Capital assessment found.[[1]](https://economymiddleeast.com/news/gcc-healthcare-spending-forecast-to-hit-159-billion-by-2029-as-region-reaches-882-hospitals-and-127600-beds/) Hamad Medical Corporation delivered 25 million healthcare services during the first half of 2026, including 1.5 million outpatient appointments, 40,000 surgical procedures and 700,000 emergency cases, the public provider reported on its platforms. The corporation oversees 14 hospitals and maintains around 30,000 employees, with Qataris holding 99 percent of leadership positions.
Sogha Exhibitions and Conferences Company is organising the event at the Qatar National Convention Centre, building on previous editions that have established QMED as the country’s flagship platform for medical and healthcare innovation. The 2026 programme will encompass sectors ranging from medical devices and diagnostics to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, digital health, medical tourism and supply-chain logistics. Qatar Development Bank functions as the primary financier and catalyst for the private sector, with its portfolio reaching QR7.3 billion after a 5 percent year-on-year increase in financing commitments during 2025, the bank has reported.
The partnership arrives as Qatar allocates QR25.4 billion to healthcare in its 2026 state budget, part of a broader push toward expanded infrastructure, digital services and private-sector participation that includes more than 4,400 government tenders valued above QR70 billion, according to the finance ministry. Such investments support ambitions to position the country as a regional hub for medical innovation and tourism while reinforcing domestic supply chains and research capabilities. Organisers anticipate the gathering will facilitate new business linkages, investment flows and knowledge exchange that advance both commercial opportunities and national health objectives.
