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Dubai Is Set To Host The 10th Global Blockchain Congress
Agora’s 10th Global Blockchain Congress is happening in Dubai on November 23rd and 24th, and promises to be a must-attend event.
Crypto fans from the Middle East and further afield are gearing up for the 10th Global Blockchain Congress, taking place in Dubai on November 23rd and 24th.
The Global Blockchain Congress is a world-renowned flagship event that focuses on the massively scaling public blockchain ecosystem and its capabilities. The event organizers, Agora Group, will showcase how the Blockchain can change the world, bringing insightful dialogue, announcements and product launches to this big UAE event.
This year, the event’s main themes are Digital Asset Regulations in the GCC, Web3 Platforms, Metaverse, Gaming, and NFTs. The expo is an exclusive closed-door congress that can only be accessed through an invite-only scheme, and will feature over 60 speakers, 150 investors, 30 sponsors, 20 media partners and well over 300 delegates.
Some of the event’s key partners and sponsors include:
- Strategic Partners: Bluemoon
- Gold Sponsors: Animal Concerts, Bitsliced, CryptoPerformance, Ghost Ivy, GoArt Metaverse, Securrency Capital, & Wild vEarth
- Silver Sponsors: Boba Network, Caesium Lab & EverdreamSoft
- Bronze Sponsors: Funganomics, Kinetix & MOI
- Partners: Crypto Oasis, DEX Ventures, Galaxy, Kommunitas, Listing.Help, NewTribe Capital, SwissBorg Ventures & V2B Labs
The event promises educational talks from several distinguished speakers, including Amit Mehra, Asim Ahmad, Christian Borel, Dr. Simon Hassannia, Feras Al Sadek, Gaurang Desai, H.E. Gabriel Abed, Omar Rahim, Ralf Glabischnig, Saqr Ereiqat, Tim Grant and Valerie Hawley.
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Previous Global Blockchain Congress events have been a runaway success, and have hosted over 1,000 investors and 250 blockchain startups, raising millions in funding for partner projects worldwide.
As the world becomes increasingly connected, and technologies such as NFTs, AI and the Metaverse become more commonplace, the event will provide a forum to discuss how legal frameworks for digital assets can be built, as well as how these new technologies will fit into the world of gaming.
Further announcements are expected as we get closer to the event, but for now, you’ll need to register your interest here, as spots are strictly limited.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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