Visa Unveils Annual Index Results, Highlighting Advances in Digitalization Among Women Entrepreneurs 

  • According to Visa’s Women SMB Digitalization Index, more than 50% of women entrepreneurs in Qatar use AI to enhance business operations;
  • Women entrepreneurs prioritize securing digital transactions through employee awareness and training;
  • Women business owners face challenges in payment acceptance and customer acquisition.

Doha, Qatar, March 12, 2025: Visa (NYSE: V), a world leader in digital payments, has announced today the findings of its second Women SMB Digitalization Index for Qatar. The results show that women-owned businesses in Qatar excel in digital payment acceptance, online presence, and customer retention, but challenges remain in payment acceptance, customer acquisition, and networking opportunities. The index assesses businesses based on five key indicators, including online presence, digital payment acceptance, payment security awareness, customer engagement, and customer retention.

Shashank Singh, Visa’s VP and General Manager for Qatar and Kuwait, said, “Our Women SMB Digitalization Study highlights the essential growth challenges faced by women-owned businesses in Qatar, such as access to payment acceptance training (35%), improved customer acquisition strategies (34%), and increased networking opportunities (31%). Visa remains committed to working with our local partners to address these challenges through mentorship and the resources for women business leaders, and support the Qatari government in building an inclusive, resilient digital economy.”


Key findings of the Women SMB Digitalization Index
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Raising Capital. Access to funding remains a critical challenge for women entrepreneurs as they navigate financial constraints and investment priorities.

  • The survey finds that women-owned businesses primarily rely on bank loans (45%), personal savings (40%), and support from friends and family (39%) to establish their businesses.
  • To support business growth and pursue key projects, Qatari women entrepreneurs seek funding from various sources. The most common approaches include using additional personal savings (34%), receiving extra support from friends and family (31%), securing more bank loans or credit (30%), and forming new partnerships (30%).

Technology Adoption. Women entrepreneurs in Qatar are actively embracing digital advancements to enhance their businesses’ efficiency, security, and customer experience.

  • Women entrepreneurs in Qatar recognize the impact of AI in business, leveraging the technology for customer service (56%), supply chain management (56%), payment and billing (55%), and data analytics and decision-making (50%).
  • 62% of women entrepreneurs in Qatar are aware of cyber threats. 
  • Over half (63%) of survey respondents reported increased accuracy in transactions and reconciliations after implementing AI in company payments. Additionally, 45% experienced enhanced fraud detection and prevention.
  • Women-owned businesses in Qatar actively sell products and services online through eCommerce, business, and consumer accounts (63%) or via an active social media business account (40%).
  • To secure digital transactions, women entrepreneurs in Qatar prioritize employee awareness training (44%) and continuous monitoring (43%).

Growth Priorities. Growth and skill development remain key priorities for women entrepreneurs in Qatar, with many looking to expand into new markets.

  • Nearly half of the respondents (49%) aim to broaden their customer reach as a strategy for business expansion. 
  • Four in ten (45%) surveyed women-owned businesses seek to explore new markets or industries.

As women entrepreneurs focus on digital growth and business expansion, Visa remains committed to supporting them with tools, resources, and platforms they need to thrive in the digital economy.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, visamiddleeast.com/blog and @Visacemea

Media Contact 

Anna Shulga
Corporate Communications, GCC, Visa
[email protected]