MENA News
Discover the latest blockchain and crypto news from the MENA region, including updates from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, covering trends, regulations, and developments shaping the industry
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has granted MANTRA a VASP license with a DeFi Limited License, marking a notable milestone in the UAE’s evolving regulatory landscape for decentralized finance (DeFi). While MANTRA has positioned this as the “first DeFi license” from VARA, the official designation clarifies that the approval falls under a limited framework—a significant yet measured step towards integrating DeFi within a regulated financial environment. A Milestone for…
Read More »The 14th edition of the prestigious Global Blockchain Congress (GBC), organized by Agora Group, took place on February 5th and 6th, 2025, at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai. Bringing together top blockchain leaders, investors, and innovators, the event reinforced Dubai’s position as a global hub for Web3 and digital assets. Key Themes and Industry Discussions The conference explored a range of critical topics shaping the blockchain landscape, including: UAE,…
Read More »The UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has appointed His Excellency Waleed Saeed Abdul Salam Al Awadhi as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Effective from February 4, 2025, Al Awadhi assumes his new role with the rank of Under-Secretary. A Legacy of Leadership at the DFSA Prior to this appointment, Al Awadhi served…
Read More »A recent wave of cryptocurrency scams has seen fraudsters impersonating high-profile figures to launch misleading tokens, and the latest targets are investors hoping to capitalize on the ongoing hype around celebrity-backed memecoins. This time, scammers posing as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—who also serves as the country’s prime minister—have launched a fraudulent memecoin dubbed the “Official” Saudi Arabia Memecoin (KSA). The suspicious token made its debut on February…
Read More »Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Investment Company, has disclosed a $436.9 million stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) as of December 31, 2024. The disclosure was made through a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A Landmark Investment in Digital Assets This investment marks one of the most significant crypto-related moves by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, underscoring its growing interest in digital assets. While…
Read More »Saudi Arabia is making a significant leap in blockchain adoption with the launch of the Web3 Alliance of Saudi Arabia (WASA). This new initiative unites key industry leaders to advance Web3 technologies in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, fostering economic diversification and technological progress. Founded by global Web3 pioneers The Sandbox, Animoca Brands, and Outlier Ventures, WASA aims to create a collaborative ecosystem that empowers businesses and drives sustainable…
Read More »The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has issued a consumer alert regarding the risks involved in investing in memecoins, following the rising popularity of these highly speculative and volatile digital assets. Unregulated and High-Risk Nature of Memecoins Memecoins have become a prominent subject of discussion within the cryptocurrency market. These digital assets, often promoted through social media platforms, are characterized by extreme volatility and lack inherent value. Their pricing is…
Read More »Tokinvest, a Dubai-based pioneering regulated marketplace for tokenized Real-World Assets (RWAs), has published a new report exploring the exciting potential of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. This report sheds light on the opportunities and challenges within this growing sector and provides a roadmap for making tokenized investments accessible to everyone. The report comes at a pivotal moment as blockchain technology continues to reshape finance, particularly in the Middle East. It explores how…
Read More »Reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to integrating advanced technologies into sports, the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) is launching the AI League – a new competition running from February 10 to the end of April 2025, with a total prize pool of one million riyals. This initiative strengthens AI’s role in revolutionizing sports and marks a significant leap forward for the industry. The AI League aims to foster innovation, nurture…
Read More »CoinMENA, a leading regulated crypto trading platform in the MENA region, is making waves in the world of cryptocurrency advertising with its debut campaign, “Your Future, Your Choice.” Partnering with creative agency Bigsea, CoinMENA is using sharp satire to critique the harsh economic realities of today’s world, and in doing so, is redefining how cryptocurrency is marketed. The campaign tackles two universal challenges: rising living costs and the struggle to…
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