- What
- Smart-city innovation call: winners get funding, support and a pilot in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
- Who
- Startups, companies, universities and creatives; apply by 4 Nov 2026.
- From abroad
- Open to companies from abroad — Solutions must be able to be demonstrated, tested, piloted or deployed in Msheireb Downtown Doha All programmes open to founders from abroad →
ddd.com.qa/azal · How we check ↗
See Azal Innovation Program (Doha Design District / Msheireb Properties) on the map next to the other 65 programmes in Qatar — and filter the whole Gulf by type, deadline and equity.
Open the map →In detail
Azal Innovation Program (Doha Design District / Msheireb Properties) is a corporate open-innovation programme (smart city) in Qatar. Open innovation call led and funded by Doha Design District (DDD) and Msheireb Properties for the 2027 programme, with Msheireb Downtown Doha as the live testing ground. Each category winner receives funding and support — subject to solution requirements, technical feasibility and required approvals — plus the chance to demonstrate, test, pilot or deploy the solution in a real smart-city environment. Open to startups and entrepreneurs as well as companies, universities, research teams and creatives; submissions in Arabic or English through the form on the programme page by 4 November 2026. Funding amounts are not published.
- Amount
- Funding and support for each category winner · amount not published
- Eligibility
- Startups and entrepreneurs, companies, universities and research teams, creatives and practitioners, subject to applicable laws and organizer requirements; solutions must be able to be piloted in Msheireb Downtown Doha
- Sectors
- Smart mobility
- AI and digital solutions
- Smart buildings
- Customer and visitor experience
- Urban technology
- Safety and security
- Smart services
- Operational efficiency
- Benefits
- Funding and support for category winners · pilot or deployment in Msheireb Downtown Doha
- Status
- Open — submissions close 4 November 2026 (published deadline), through the form on the programme page (checked October 2026)
Is this for you?
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We match them against what Azal Innovation Program (Doha Design District / Msheireb Properties) publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Azal is open to everyone, subject to applicable laws and organizer requirements: startups and entrepreneurs, companies, universities and research teams, creatives and practitioners.”
“Each category winner will receive funding and support, subject to solution requirements, technical feasibility, and required approvals, plus the chance to be demonstrated, tested, piloted, or deployed within a real smart city environment.”
“DDD and Msheireb Properties lead and fund the 2027 program, with Msheireb Downtown Doha as the live testing ground for the two winning solutions.”
“they must be able to be demonstrated, tested, piloted, or deployed in Msheireb Downtown Doha.”
“Potential areas: smart mobility, AI and digital solutions, smart buildings, customer and visitor experience, urban technology, safety and security, smart services, operational efficiency.”
“Submissions are accepted in Arabic or English through the form below by 4 November 2026.”
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| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Azal Innovation Program (Doha Design District / Msheireb Properties)Smart-city innovation call: winners get funding, support and a pilot in Msheireb Downtown Doha. | not published | Not published | Open |
| QIC Digital Venture PartnersEquity tickets of USD 100–500K; 5 to 10 investments a year. | USD 100–500K | Equity | Active |
| MBK Holding (M³ Ventures)Doha holding investing in operating and growth-stage tech companies via M³ Ventures. | not published | Equity | Active |
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
Questions founders ask
What does Azal Innovation Program (Doha Design District / Msheireb Properties) offer?
Smart-city innovation call: winners get funding, support and a pilot in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Open to companies from abroad — Solutions must be able to be demonstrated, tested, piloted or deployed in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
Is there a deadline?
Yes — applications close 4 Nov 2026.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · ddd.com.qa/azal