News

Dubai Adopts Its First Cryptocurrency Legislation

Dubai Police will start using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technology to analyze the blockchain ledgers.

Published

2 years ago

March 27, 2022

David Morelo

dubai adopts its first cryptocurrency legislation

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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.

Related Topics:Cryptocurrency Dubai Dubai Police United Arab Emirates

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Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 To Help Climate Technology Startups

The initiative was announced at the COP28 summit and will help selected startups with a $200,000 cash injection and further incentives.

Published

23 hours ago

December 5, 2023

Nour Nasir

Hub71

Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global technology system, has launched a new initiative to support climate technology startups backed by several of the UAE’s largest public and private sector organizations.

Known as the Hub71+ ClimateTech ecosystem, the program was announced at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, with funding commitments from 25+ local and international partners already in place.

A total of 342 startups have submitted applications so far, with the top companies being added to a shortlist that will be revealed shortly. Selected startups will receive Dh250,000 ($68,000) in incentives and an upfront cash support package of Dh250,000. In addition, the top performers of Hub71’s new initiative will also receive a top-up of up to Dh250,000 in exchange for additional equity.

Ahmad Alwan, deputy chief executive of Hub71, said: “This initiative aims to bring in different entities that have a shared mission towards climate tech […] Throughout the journey, we will support these companies, not only from being startups to becoming mature companies but also to facilitate their engagement with entities that would support them with access to capital, market, and talent”.

The Hub71+ ClimateTech ecosystem is backed by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company and the National Central Cooling Company, who have each pledged Dh500,000 to the initiative as anchor partners.

Also Read: Wisdom Motor Brings First Zero-Emission Bus To GCC

They are joined by corporate partners, including Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ, Aldar Properties, sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Masdar City, and Dubai’s Emirates NBD. In addition, Siemens Energy is also onboard as an anchor partner.

So far, Hub71 has helped 260 member startups and created over 1,000 jobs, according to the organization’s website. In addition, it has collectively raised around Dh5 billion since its foundation in 2019.