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Web 3.0 Expert Kevin O’Leary To Speak At Blockchain Awards

The chairman of O’Leary Ventures and star of ABC’s Shark Tank will deliver a keynote speech at the Middle East Blockchain Awards.

Published

3 years ago

November 16, 2022

Nour Nasir

web 3.0 expert kevin o'leary to speak at blockchain awards

Crypto and future technology enthusiasts worldwide are gearing up for Abu Dhabi’s Middle East Blockchain Awards, which will take place on November 18th. To mark the occasion, web 3.0, blockchain, and cryptocurrency expert Kevin O’Leary will deliver an important keynote speech.

O’Leary will travel to Abu Dhabi as an ambassador of the business expansion initiative known as Access Abu Dhabi. The program is supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and acts as a conduit for businesses entering the city’s thriving startup and innovation ecosystem. O’Leary has traveled to Abu Dhabi three times over the last two years and has considerable experience as a Web 3.0 investor.

“It’s a massive honor to have Kevin O’Leary deliver a keynote speech at the first edition of the Middle East Blockchain Awards. He’s a well-respected and renowned personality on an international level, especially for his work with blockchain and crypto. This is a phenomenal start to what we’re sure will become a long-lived series of Awards ceremonies recognizing some of the region’s finest Web 3.0 achievements,” says Bally Singh, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Hoko Group.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi Airports Exploring Options For Air Taxis

The Middle East Blockchain Awards will be supported by GEM Digital Limited, the headline sponsor, with support from the Abu Dhabi Residents Office, Inery Blockchain, and Everdome, the first hyper-realistic metaverse.

As to the ceremony itself, this year’s MEBA will be held in the beautiful Palm Garden of the five-star W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, on the same weekend as the Formula One races. The black-tie event promises to be a spectacular evening and will be attended by high-profile individuals and a large panel of expert judges.

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Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

Also Read: Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile

However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.