• The Ministry received 197 nominations from 115 companies and institutions from the private sector.
• An eminent panel of judges comprising 20 experts, academics and government officials evaluated the nominations.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) announced yesterday the winners of Qatar Digital Business Awards 2023 in its seventh edition at a ceremony organized by the Ministry and attended by HE Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and several excellencies and senior officials from the local ICT sector.

Speaking at the award ceremony, HE Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology stressed the importance of the award in appreciating the efforts of digital transformation pioneers in Qatar and enhancing their contributions to fostering economic and social development. He also highlighted the role of SMEs as major drivers of growth, pointing out that the Ministry is keen to empower them through their digital transformation journeys to improve their efficiency and flexibility.

“Small and medium-sized companies contribute significantly to creating job opportunities and are also drivers of economic growth and social development, as they represent about 97% of the registered private sector companies in Qatar and account for around 17% of the country’s non-oil GDP. A single job at a startup creates five other indirect jobs in the market. Therefore, one of our main priorities is to enhance the capabilities of SMEs by empowering them during their digital transformation journeys to improve their efficiency and flexibility and contribution to the growth of the digital economy,” His Excellency noted.

This year’s award included ten categories, with many companies competing. The winners in the ten categories are as follows:

1. Mezza Company for the ICT Service Provider of the Year category – Meeza provides comprehensive solutions in Network Management and operates a sophisticated Security Operations Center (SOC). With advanced tools and systems, Meeza enhances the efficiency, security, and reliability of its clients. Meeza won for its infrastructure project for Mowasalat Solution.
2. Malomatia for the Best Systems Integrators category – malomatia seamlessly integrated diverse technological components into a unified platform with over 16 integrations across ministries. The platform offers features such as process automation, real-time tracking and monitoring, and integration with various stakeholders. It enhances operational efficiency, reduces time and costs, and improves transparency.
3. Qatar National Bank for the Best Mobile App category –  QNB developed an omnichannel mobile app and internet banking platform offering multiple features such as virtual credit cards, electronic payments, and loan services, and implemented blockchain technology for money transfers, etc.
4. GBM for the Best Cloud Computing Solution category. GBM successfully supported its clients to migrate their platform to Azure, overseeing implementation, migration, disaster recovery setup and overall administration. Additionally, GBM contributed significantly to implementing an integrated digital platform for tax transaction management aiming to enhance efficiency and accessibility in tax services.
5. Muallemi for the Best Innovative Digital Startup category - Muallemi revolutionized learning in Qatar by launching an e-learning platform both for schools and parents to deliver customized learning pathways based on individual student strengths and weaknesses. The platform also uses a gamification strategy to encourage student engagement and interest.
6. Nabina Company for the Best SME Digital Transformation Initiative category - Nabina deployed a unified inventory management solution to increase its operational efficiency by enabling real-time inventory visibility, seamless sales order processing and optimizing end-to-end sales processes. This also resulted in greater customer satisfaction and retention.
7. KAHRAMAA for the Best Smart Solution category –Kahramaa, as part of the National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency “Tarsheed”, along with its partners, launched a comprehensive solution to provide an optimized EV charging experience that reduces CO2 emissions and gas consumption as well as strengthens the national adoption of electric vehicles with businesses & residents.
8. Snoonu for the Best Innovative Digital Commerce Solution category - Snoonu is a versatile app that serves as an all-in-one commerce solution. The app provides a seamless delivery service for a wide range of products including but not limited to food, groceries, and electronics.
9. MATAR for the Best Innovative Use of Big Data and Analytics category – HIA leveraged big data and analytics to understand the competency and proficiency of its employees to meet its business objectives. With the ever-increasing gaps due to technology, business needs and evolving job roles, HIA deployed an analytics solution to map the competency of their employees with the desired roles to identify learning gaps and subsequent learning pathways.
10. Kanari AI for the Best Outstanding Achievement in Artificial Intelligence category - Kanari AI has revolutionized Arabic Speech technologies, demonstrating an exceptional capability to detect and interpret 19 Arabic dialects. Kanari AI has implemented solutions such as automatic speech recognition, natural language processing and text-to-speech.

The second Best Outstanding Achievement in Artificial Intelligence was awarded to EButler pioneered AI-powered customer service solutions with the launch of EBChat, enhancing customer experience while driving operational efficiency. The EBChat leverages custom trained LLM models into the EBChat customer support enabling superior customer experience.

In a statement, HE Mrs. Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT, stated: “We are pleased to express our gratitude to all those contributing to the prosperity of our digital economy and the establishment of a sophisticated technological sector that fosters economic diversification and drives Qatar's forward-thinking digital revolution. Congratulations to all the winners and our esteemed partners in the digital development journey, and we extend our best wishes to all participants in future editions."

Her Excellency added: "The 7th edition of QDBA witnessed intense competition across its various categories, indicating a commendable level of excellence and professionalism. This signifies the strides made in the digital industry and the widespread integration of technology within the private sector. We look forward to even more innovation and development in the coming year, as we continue to support the growth of the digital economy and solidify Qatar’s position as a leader in digital transformation.”

This year’s award witnessed a large turnout, as the Ministry received 197 nominations from 115 companies and institutions from the private sector. The nominations were evaluated by an independent jury that included 20 experts, academics, and government officials.

It’s worth noting that Qatar Digital Business Award serves as a significant platform within Qatar, celebrating pioneers of digital transformation and inspiring greater technological adoption across diverse sectors. This award plays a significant role in propelling development, fostering innovation, and bolstering the national economy. Furthermore, the annual Qatar Digital Business Award ceremony stands as an important event, spotlighting the accomplishments of digital entrepreneurs in Qatar while also serving as a catalyst for continued innovation and advancement within this critical sector.