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, smart infrastructure, and the digital economy have made cybersecurity both relevant and essential to the countryâs long-term growth, an official of an Indonesia-based tech firm has said.</p><p>âQatar is particularly interesting because of its ambitious vision for technology, innovation, and digital transformation,â Patrick Dannacher, president director and CEO of ITSEC Asia, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.</p><p>Dannacher said, âAs the country continues to invest in AI, smart infrastructure, and the digital economy, cybersecurity becomes an essential enabler of trust and resilience.â</p><p>He continued, âWe believe there are tremendous opportunities ahead, and we are committed to supporting organisations across the region with world-class expertise, innovation and a long-term partnership approach.</p><p>âUltimately, our mission is very simple: to help businesses and governments innovate with confidence and provide something increasingly valuable in todayâs digital economy, which is peace of mind.â</p><p>According to Dannacher, the company started in Indonesia 16 years ago with seven people. It has since grown to more than 400 cybersecurity professionals across offices in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. It is the only listed cybersecurity company on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, he noted.</p><p>Dannacher said ITSEC Asiaâs entry into the Gulf came through a Dubai base, established in 2017, from which it serves organisations across the GCC with services spanning advisory, managed security, penetration testing, security assessments, and cyber resilience programmes.</p><p>He said the Middle East was a logical next step because it resembles what his teams saw in Southeast Asia years earlier.</p><p>Dannacher said the Middle East and Southeast Asian regions are undergoing rapid digital transformation, embracing AI at scale and generating rising demand for cyber resilience. In both markets, organisations are searching for partners who can help them grow without making themselves more vulnerable in the process, he also said.</p><p>What those organisations are navigating has changed sharply in recent years, Dannacher pointed out, adding that âthe threat landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Attacks are becoming more targeted, more persistent and increasingly AI-enabled.â</p><p>He said, âWhat is different today is that many attacks are no longer being driven only by humans.â</p><p>Dannacher cautioned that AI is helping attackers automate reconnaissance, develop phishing campaigns, generate deepfakes, and identify vulnerabilities much faster than before.</p><p>âA human needs a little bit of sleep. AI does not. As long as it has enough computing power, it can keep working around the clock,â he said.</p><p>The tools fuelling these threats have also become cheaper and more accessible, Dannacher warned. âAI is lowering the barriers to entry for cybercriminals. Many of the tools available today are inexpensive or freely accessible, which means attackers no longer need the same level of expertise or resources as they once did,â he stressed.</p><p>Cybersecurity is not only a technology challenge, he explained, adding that stopping at technology is a mistake.</p><p>âIt is also about people, training, and visibility. Organisations need to understand where they are vulnerable, continuously monitor their environment, and make cybersecurity part of everyday business operations,â Dannacher added.</p><p> </p>__%20%20%20%20<p>Related%20Story</p>_%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20__%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20<img%20loading=?resize=150,150&ssl=1 "Knowledgeable: Cybersecurity key for Qatarâs virtual enlargement")
 have accelerated its standing as a competitive regional business hub, according to data from the Invest Qatar Annual Report 2025. </p><p>The report outlines significant gains across several international benchmarks. Qatar secured first place globally in General Infrastructure under the 2025 Global Innovation Index, while placing fourth in ICT Development according to the 2025 ITU ICT Development Index. </p><p>The country also made progress in human capital and expatriate integration, ranking 6th in Expat Essentials under the 2025 InterNations Expat Insider survey and 7th for Talent Attraction in the INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2025. Quality of life indicators placed Qatar 9th globally in the Numbeo Quality of Life Index 2025. </p><p>The Minister of Commerce and Industry His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal al-Thani, who is also Invest Qatar chairman, highlighted in the annual report the structural measures implemented to improve the investment ecosystem. </p><p>“Throughout the year, Qatar advanced several strategic initiatives and projects that further enhanced the business and investment ecosystem, reinforcing the country’s competitiveness and appeal to investors worldwide,” Sheikh Faisal stated. </p><p>He also said, “Among the most notable developments was the launch of Invest Qatar’s $1bn incentive programme at the Qatar Economic Forum 2025. Structured around four tailored packages, the programme is designed to attract high-Impact investments aligned with Qatar’s economic diversification priorities.” </p><p>“In 2025, Qatar ranked among the top 10 countries globally for the first time in the International Institute for Management Development’s Global Competitiveness Report. The country also strengthened its global investment standing by ranking 12th worldwide in fDi Intelligence’s Greenfield FDI Performance Index 2025, climbing an impressive 21 places,” Sheikh Faisal added. </p><p>A series of administrative streamlined measures backed these institutional moves. Company registration timelines were cut to two days, while commercial setups were enabled using only a passport for eligible investors, stated the report. </p><p>Labour and setup costs were revised as well, the report stated, citing that the Ministry of Labour standardised recruitment fees, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) reduced application fees by 90%, and the General Tax Authority (GTA) introduced full penalty exemptions. </p><p>The report highlighted that new visa categories were launched for investors, entrepreneurs, property owners, and skilled professionals in technology, arts, and sports, alongside the launch of the ‘Qooqul’ platform to boost graduate employment. </p><p>Invest Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed al-Thani pointed to the agency’s expanding international footprint as a key factor in connecting foreign businesses to domestic opportunities. </p><p>“Central to this progress was the significant expansion of Invest Qatar’s global footprint. During the year, we established dedicated representatives in London, New York, Paris, Mumbai and Istanbul, providing investors across key markets with direct access to on-the-ground insights, tailored support and real-time engagement with Qatar’s investment ecosystem,” Sheikh Ali said in the report. </p><p>Sheikh Ali reported that the agency hosted over 1,450 investor and stakeholder meetings and organised more than 150 fact-finding trips over the course of the year. </p><p>“Invest Qatar hosted the inaugural Qatar Pavilion at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, showcasing Qatar’s dynamic business landscape to a global audience. We also convened the FDI Leaders Network Autumn Meeting in Qatar, bringing together CEOs and heads of international Investment Promotion Agencies to exchange insights and best practices,” Sheikh Ali also noted. </p><p>Digital tools were updated in parallel in 2025, according to Sheikh Ali, who added that the Invest Qatar Gateway was revamped with a secure document vault and direct integrations for banking and telecommunications services to simplify setup procedures. </p><p>He said new international partners joined the ecosystem during 2025, including imec, WHOOP, Level Infinite, Quantinuum, Yuno, Ardian, Silian Partners, and Das Intellitech, expanding local market capabilities. </p><p>Invest Qatar also expanded institutional ties with foreign investment boards, signing agreements with Invest India, ProColombia, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Startup Portugal, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Sheikh Ali also said. </p><p>On the domestic front, he said the agency collaborated with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council to launch the ‘Scale Now’ programme, designed to help local Qatari tech firms expand under Digital Agenda 2030. </p><p>Citing annual report figures, Sheikh Ali added that these combined measures supported 373 new foreign direct investment projects during the year, representing $3.4bn in capital expenditure and creating 15,051 jobs.</p>__%20%20%20%20<p>Related%20Story</p>_%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20_%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20__%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20<img%20loading=?resize=420,280&ssl=1 "Qatar’s NDS3 reforms, infrastructure push drive major global business ranking gains")
