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Dubai Adopts Its First Cryptocurrency Legislation
Dubai Police will start using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technology to analyze the blockchain ledgers.
Like all technology, cryptocurrency can be used for both legitimate and nefarious purposes.
To establish Dubai as a cryptocurrency leader with a positive influence on the entire market, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has recently announced the adoption of the first legislation in the UAE to regulate cryptocurrency assets.
To oversee the execution of the new law and serve as a regulator of crypto activities, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) has been set up in Dubai. One of VARA’s main responsibilities is the monitoring of virtual asset transactions to prevent price manipulations and other financial crimes. That’s no easy task to accomplish because popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are pseudonymous, allowing asset holders to keep their real identities hidden.
Fortunately for VARA, Dubai Police’s cybercrime unit has been developing and using cutting-edge technology to make sense of virtual asset transactions.
“Technology is changing the world, and law enforcement is a part of that change. In order to combat crime, we are constantly researching new technologies” said Brigadier Dr. Saleh Al Hamrani, Dubai Police’s Deputy Director-General of Excellence and Entrepreneurship.
More specifically, Dubai Police is using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze the blockchain ledgers, which are essentially growing lists of records that are linked together as blocks using cryptography.
Also Read: 5 Gaming Cryptos That Will Explode In 2023
“We are going to work on the next generation of AI technology to help predict how and what are the risks we are going to face so that we are ready both internally and externally” Brig. Dr. Saleh added. “We are working and implementing AI not only for crime but also for traffic, security at the airport, and marine security”.
In the near future, the regulator of DIFC Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) is also supposed to publish its own cryptocurrency regulation, and we will definitely keep you informed about it.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.