Five projects reach final stage of Msheireb’s Azal Innovation Programme

Doha Design District (DJ), under the umbrella of Msheireb Properties, today announced the five projects that have qualified for the final phase of the 2026 edition of the Azal Innovation Programme, dedicated to discovering and supporting practical solutions to urban, environmental, economic and social challenges.

Five projects were selected to move to the final stage, based on the evaluation of the judging panel, reflecting the diversity of innovative approaches and practical solutions provided to the program. All participants in the Azal Innovation 2026 program were evaluated against four criteria: strategic alignment with neighborhood priorities, potential impact, level of innovation, and feasibility.

The winning projects were selected from 102 unique entries from 40 nationalities, including 67 from startups, underscoring AZAL's international presence and ambition to attract innovative solutions to real-world urban challenges.

The proposals covered a wide range of areas, including smart city technologies, sustainability and circular economy, construction and buildings, climate and water management, mobility, visitor services, and operational intelligence.

Ali Al Hitmi, Director of Innovation at Msheireb Properties, said that the response to the Azal programme has shown a growing interest in developing practical solutions that meet the evolving needs of cities and communities, noting that the 102 entries from 40 nationalities reflect the international reach of the programme and the diversity of ideas presented.

He pointed out that the selected projects were distinguished by their potential impact, level of innovation and feasibility, as they offer promising approaches to some of the challenges facing today's urban environments, while at the same time looking forward to listening to the finalists' presentations of their solutions at Downtown Tech, and supporting ideas that can be transformed into tangible improvements that contribute to making Msheireb Downtown Doha smarter and more sustainable.

Azel honors outstanding proposals in two categories. The Best Smart City Innovation Award celebrates solutions that are capable of enhancing Msheireb Downtown Doha through technology, services, processes, visitor experience, mobility and data. The Best Sustainable Solutions for Smart Cities Award is concerned with initiatives that contribute to reducing environmental impact, improving the efficiency of the use of resources, promoting the principles of the circular economy, and achieving positive social and societal value.

The five finalists will present their proposals during a special presentation session of the "Azal" program at Barahat Msheireb, as part of the activities of Downtown Tech on November 17, to highlight the practical potential of their solutions, their feasibility and their expected impact.

Following the final submissions and evaluation, two winners, one for each category, will be announced on November 18 at a ceremony at Downtown Tech.

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