Doha: Qatar Foundation has concluded the second edition of the BilAraby Annual Gathering, bringing together 1,600 participants for discussions on building digital platforms that serve people, overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship, and drawing on community knowledge to build peace. Organized by Qatar Foundation's (QF) BilAraby initiative, the gathering took place on 19-20 September 2026 at Multaqa (Education City Student Center) in Doha under the theme "With Our Ideas, We Build."
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater attended the second day of the gathering and toured the partner pavilions. The program featured main-stage talks, exploratory sessions, workshops, and interactive spaces, enabling participants to share experiences, discuss ideas, and explore their practical applications.
Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs at QF, Hisham Nourin, remarked on the significance of the gathering, stating that the value lies in leaving with a greater understanding and something useful to put into practice. He emphasized the foundation's responsibility to create conditions for continued exchange and connections beyond the event.
A highlight of the gathering was the talk by Issam Hijazi, Founder and CEO of social media platform UpScrolled, titled 'Don't Undervalue Yourself.' Hijazi shared his experience in building a platform that empowers users to control the content they follow. Mediation expert Zahra' Langhi, in her talk 'Who Tells the Story of Peace?', stressed the importance of understanding conflict-affected communities in peace efforts.
Hamad Mubarak Al Hajri, Founder and CEO of Snoonu, recounted his journey from employment termination to entrepreneurship, highlighting how support from his team during a funding crisis led to the company's success. In another session, Dr. Anwar Dafa-Alla, Adviser to the BilAraby initiative, underscored the role of volunteers in the BilAraby Open Translation Project, while Musab Masri shared insights on translating texts with a focus on maintaining fluency and clarity.
The gathering's final day included various sessions such as 'Lead in His Footsteps (Peace Be Upon Him): An Interactive Simulation of Prophetic Leadership' by QF's QIYADA conference, and 'Read to Me,' a session on Arabic-language education by the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development. The 'Initiative Accelerator Lab' by Al Sharq Forum focused on transforming ideas into action.
A video presentation showcased 'BilArabyFee.' events in Damascus, Amman, and Djerba, inviting interest in hosting similar events in other cities. These events aim to foster dialogue and knowledge exchange in Arabic through local and regional partnerships.