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Step Conference 2022 Celebrates Cutting-Edge Technologies

Step is celebrating its 10 year anniversary with the Step Conference 2022 edition back in-person.

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step conference 2022 celebrates cutting-edge technologies

Our increasingly digital lives are shaped by cutting-edge technologies that enable information to be exchanged faster and more easily than ever before. From February 23 to February 24, Step Conference 2022 will celebrate artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, fintech, Web3, cloud technology, healthcare technology, and other building blocks of the modern world.

10th Anniversary Of Step Conference

This year’s conference is extra special because it marks the 10th anniversary of the event, which started as a series of workshops and small gatherings in 2011.

Since its humble beginnings, Step Conference has grown to become a comprehensive conference ecosystem that brings top tech experts to Dubai to share their insights with large audiences, exchange expertise, and drive innovation.

Step Conference is organized by new media company Step. During the past decade, Step has hosted more than 200 events and programs, with participation from more than 2,000 startups from MENA and other regions.

Step’s investor meeting and mentorship programs have helped facilitate over 10,000 connections, many of which have resulted in fruitful partnerships.

Step Conference 2022 is happening alongside Expo 2020 in the heart of Dubai Internet City. “Our partnership with Dubai Internet City has been impactful in engaging and supporting entrepreneurs in the region” said Ray Dargham, CEO of Step.

What You Can Look Forward To At Step Conference 2022

The 10th iteration of Step Conference will be full of interesting events to attend. The topics they will explore include:

NFTs: Non-fungible tokens, which are cryptographic proofs of ownership stored on a blockchain, have profoundly transformed the art industry, and they continue to disrupt how assets (mainly digital but also physical) are owned. From Coinbase to Meta to Ubisoft, established companies are joining the NFT revolution and exploring a broad range of potential use cases.

Web3: Thanks to the decentralized infrastructure provided by Blockchain technology, the World Wide Web is now evolving to give its users the ability to actually own and control the data they generate, among other things. While still in its early stages, Web3 is likely to have just as profound impact on society as user-generated content enabled by Web 2.0 has had.

Metaverse: Virtual reality has matured to such an extent that it can now be used to overcome the limitations of remote working, provide more memorable and immersive education, deliver healthcare services to people in remote areas, and more. What is emerging is an interconnected network of virtual reality worlds, and this network is referred to as the metaverse.

Discussing these and other hot topics will be Elie Habib, the founder of the Middle East’s leading music streaming service Anghami; Michelle Arrazcaeta, head of Brand Strategy & Collaborations at Polaroid; Paul Misener, the Vice President of Global Innovation Policy and Communication at Amazon; Sidra Qasim, co-founder of Brooklyn-based shoe brand Atoms; and others.

“We hope to welcome international delegations to the conference, expanding the potential for partnerships and investment on a larger scale than ever before” said Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City.

How To Attend Step Conference 2022

If you would like to attend Step Conference 2022 yourself, you can purchase tickets from the Step website. Early discounts are no longer available, but regular tickets can be purchased until February 13.

Tickets are divided into three main Tracks (Fintech, Future, and Digital) based on covered topics. The Fintech Track revolves around the latest in financial technology, blockchain, and digital currencies. The Future Track is all about automation, smart cities, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. The Digital Track covers everything from digital marketing to advertising technology.

You can also purchase a Master Pass to access all main tracks plus workshops, satellite events, entertainment venues, and more.

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Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

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syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.

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