Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is accelerating its tech investments, joining a $520 million funding round for humanoid robotics startup Apptronik and a $5 billion raise for AI-powered data analytics firm Databricks this week.
Apptronik, known for its humanoid robot Apollo, plans to use the capital to speed production, expand global deployments, and advance human-centred robot design ahead of a new 2026 model. Investors in the round include AT&T Ventures, John Deere, Google, Mercedes-Benz, and PEAK6.
Databricks’ funding, which also added $2 billion in debt capacity at a $134 billion valuation, included Qatar Investment Authority alongside Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Neuberger Berman. QIA had previously backed Databricks with Amazon Web Services, CapitalG, and Microsoft in 2023.
The wealth fund has stepped up tech-related investments in recent months, joining a $13 billion funding round for AI startup Anthropic, a $3 billion data-centre venture with Blue Owl Capital, and a $20 billion AI infrastructure push with Brookfield Asset Management.
The QIA isn’t alone in ramping up investments in tech sector. Abu Dhabi’s MGX is reportedly in talks to join Anthropic’s $20 billion round after backing OpenAI, and has supported Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative, as well as a $30 billion energy-efficient data centre project with BlackRock and Microsoft. In Saudi Arabia, the sovereign wealth fund–backed Humain is driving large-scale AI investments. This week Humain said it acquired a controlling stake in London-based AI sports tech firm ai.io.
📌 Why it matters: Gulf sovereign funds are rapidly pivoting from oil to technology, focusing on AI, robotics, semiconductors, and software as part of a regional race to dominate next-generation industries.
📌 Bottom line: By backing Apptronik and Databricks, Qatar Investment Authority is cementing its role as a global tech investor, supporting innovation from humanoid robotics to enterprise AI.
