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Saudi’s IR4LAB’s uses blockchain for charity food distribution in Ramadan

Saudi’s IR4LAB’s uses blockchain for charity food distribution in Ramadan

Saudi Arabian Blockchain and AI development startup IR4LAB,  is tracking food packages distributed to families during the holy month of Ramadan as part of charity donations. 

The Blockchain solution leverages DocCerts,  which has been utilized to issue a unique authenticity card for each package and assigned a unique ID and QR code to it.

Recipients can scan or enter the ID to obtain real-time details about the package delivered, including its source and contents. Once the package is verified, an entry is added to the transaction history, allowing confirmation of receipt in real-time and eliminating the need for time-consuming reporting back to the donors.

In addition, the system has an approval workflow feature, which is especially useful for transactions that involve multiple stakeholders. This is often the case with charity initiatives that involve various organizations, including government entities, private corporations, and non-profit organizations.

Charity initiatives are crucial for strengthening the social fabric, fostering local and international cooperation, and improving the lives of many communities worldwide. However, they are susceptible to fraud and misuse, which can erode donor trust. Therefore, a traceability system based on Blockchain technology can be instrumental in mitigating these risks and enhancing transparency and trust.

Majd Jamal Alafifi, Co-Founder and CEO of IR4LAB, stated, “This is an excellent example of utilizing technology such as Blockchain for social good, and we are delighted to have successfully completed this unique initiative in the region.”

Mohamed EL KANDRI, Co-Founder and CTO of IR4LAB, added, “We are proud to use our solutions to help our communities in a meaningful way, and we believe that new technologies can accomplish even more in line with the sustainable development goals, not only in the region but also worldwide.”

During Saudi’s leading tech event LEAP 2023, in February  IR4LAB, and SGS (Saudi Ground Services), jointly announced the implementation of DocCerts Blockchain management solution for all training related digital documents and ground service equipment licenses issued by SGS at 28 Saudi Arabian airports where SGS provides ground services.

Jordan on FATF grey list because of virtual assets risks

Jordan on FATF grey list because of virtual assets risks

On February 24th 2023 FAFT released its latest grey and black list. For those who are on the grey list it means that these jurisdictions are under increased monitoring and are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

As per the recent announcement by FATF, “When the FATF places a jurisdiction under increased monitoring, it means the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring. This list is often externally referred to as the “grey list”.”

Of the Arab countries on the grey list, was Jordan. It was on the list because of risks in virtual assets. As per FATF one of the reasons for it being on the list was because it needed to address strategic deficiencies including “completing and disseminating the money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessments of legal persons and virtual assets.”

It was interesting to see the term virtual assets in relation to Jordan because Jordan has not been on the list in terms of countries with high crypto ownership or transactions. Other countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and Lebanon are much more active in crypto. yet FATF chose to include the risks of virtual assets as one of the reasons it was one the grey list. 

According to Triple A crypto ownership report, the percentage of Jordanians who own crypto is just 1.5 percent equivalent to 170,000 people as of January 2023 an increase from 1.25 percent in 2022.

Concurrently, the IMF after its technical report on Jordan’s Central Bank feasibility for the launch of retail CBDC after a three month mission, recently released its report. IMF gave Jordan’s existing payment market a positive review calling it well integrated.

Nonetheless, The IMF stated that an rCBDC would enhance financial inclusion by providing services to residents without smartphones and could also improve the domestic payment system by making its infrastructure available to PSPs and lowering the cost of cross-border transfers.

The IMF however warned to avoid disintermediation in the Jordanian financial system, as it could contribute to instability in times of stress. The IMF found that an rCBDC could increase cybersecurity risks as an attractive target. “Sound legal underpinnings for an rCBDC should also be created,” the report said. 

In its report the IMF noted, “RCBDC may offer some benefits, but it does not necessarily address pain points. On the other hand, a cross-border rCBDC could add value, particularly if the authorities coordinate with other countries in the region.”

Jordan’s Central Bank had announced in February 2022 that it was researching a CBDC. Cointelegraph article noted that a central bank proposal to introduce crypto trading met with resistance in the parliament.

Whatever the case, Jordan being on FATF grey list because of virtual assets risks is another reminder of the need to regulate crypto assets.

The desert of UAE now has two crypto Blockchain oases, plural for Oasis

The desert of UAE now has two crypto Blockchain oases, plural for Oasis

The Government of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) will be launching the RAK Digital Assets Oasis free zone dedicated to digital and virtual asset companies for non regulated entities. So the UAE now has two crypto Blockchain Oases, one in DMCC for regulated blockchain and crypto entities and one in RAK for non regulated. The new oasis will be launched in Q2 of 2023. 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK ICC and Chairman of RAK Digital Assets Oasis said,  “We are proud to further the UAE’s position as a primary destination for innovation with the launch of RAK Digital Assets Oasis. We are building the free zone of the future for the companies of the future. As the world’s first free zone solely dedicated to digital and virtual asset companies, we look forward to supporting the ambitions of entrepreneurs from around the world with our progressive, supportive, and quick-to-adapt approach, and our innovation-enabling environment.”

Making the announcement, Dr. Sameer Al Ansari, CEO of RAK ICC and CEO of Digital Assets Oasis, said: “I am privileged to help implement the forward-thinking vision of the leadership of Ras Al Khaimah to enable, foster, and promote innovation in new and emerging sectors of the future. With the UAE’s established reputation as an innovation hub, RAK Digital Assets Oasis delivers a truly unique offering to global entrepreneurs bringing together an unmatched combination of accessibility and liveability, supported by Ras Al Khaimah’s business-friendly infrastructure, progressive policies, and an international lifestyle offering.” 

RAK Digital Assets Oasis will be a purpose-built, true innovation-enabling free zone for non-regulated activities in the virtual assets sector. It is intended to be the only free zone in the world solely dedicated to digital and virtual assets service providers innovating in new and emerging sectors of the future including metaverse, blockchain, utility tokens, virtual asset wallets, NFTs, DAOs, DApp, and other Web3-related businesses. RAK Digital Assets Oasis will open for applications in the second quarter of 2023.

“We look forward to welcoming the world’s brightest Web3 minds with their most disruptive ideas that uncover new approaches to creating a better future. We are committed to empowering the next generation of global entrepreneurial talent to build transformative solutions and create impact, while shaping the future of businesses and economies,” added Dr. Al Ansari.

RAK Digital Assets Oasis’ unique lifestyle proposition will support companies with robust, innovation-enabling adoption frameworks, advisory and professional services, hybrid workspaces, accelerators and incubators, sandboxes, access to funding, and an environment that encourages entrepreneurs to imagine, create, and evolve.

The free zone aligns with the UAE’s position as a primary destination for innovation. RAK Digital Assets Oasis will be a remote-work friendly, globally connected destination for digital and virtual asset companies building innovative business models for the future that will be well positioned to tap into the region’s emerging markets.

Prior to this DMCC had embraced the Crypto Oasis ecosystem within its free zone in Dubai UAE. It has also incorporated the DMCC Crypto Center dedicated to crypto and Blockchain entities. So today RAS Al Khaimah is yet another blockchain and crypto oasis in the desert.

Web3 Blockchain messaging platform Pravica is only MENA startup chosen by Deutsche Telecom’s and T-Mobile for T-Challenge 2023

Web3 Blockchain messaging platform Pravica is only MENA startup chosen by Deutsche Telecom’s and T-Mobile for T-Challenge 2023

Egypt founded, WEB3.0 messaging and Blockchain communications platform, Pravica, with offices in Egypt and the UAE is the only MENA-based startup chosen among the top 20 finalists for Deutsche Telecom’s T-Labs and T-Mobile’s T-Challenge 2023.

T-Labs is the R&D department of Deutsche Telekom which focuses on translating new technology trends and delivering tangible results into Deutsche Telekom’s innovation portfolio. Their current research areas are: Future Networks, Spatial Computing, Network Security and Digital Twin and Decentralized Systems

Pravica, an Egyptian WEB 3.0 Messaging and Blockchain communications platform with offices in UAE was one of the 20 projects selected for T-Labs and T-Mobile’s Challenge in 2023.

The focus of T Challenge in 2023 is utilizing decentralized technologies for telecommunication in other words Web3 in telecommunications. As per the T-Challenge announcement, the start-ups were chosen because they stood out for their innovative Web3 solutions powered by 5G.

T-Mobile USA, and T-Labs were looking for innovative and creative approaches for the segments customer engagement and loyalty, wallet and ID management, network and security, media, entertainment, and experiential as well as sustainability.

The 20 finalists, including startups from the USA, Europe and Asia, will prepare and present their solutions to Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile US leaders.

Six winners of this group will be selected and split €600,000 euros, or roughly the same in U.S. dollars, in prize money. Winners will also have the opportunity for their solutions to be featured by T-Mobile US and Deutsche Telekom in other projects across Europe and the U.S.

Founder and CEO of Pravica, Mohamed Abdou said, “We are very proud to have been the only Web3 startup from the MENA region to have been chosen among the top 20 global decentralized players. We were selected because we are offering the future of communications utilizing Web3 technology, blockchain, and secured encryption ushering in a new era of messaging. We have built an infrastructure that aims to bring wallet-to-wallet messaging functionality to Web 3.0 communities. Our main mission is to empower the user-owned Internet by allowing our users to own and control their data and encryption keys linked to their owned DIDs. Being selected is a testament that Web3 startups from the MENA region can compete globally with their world-class solutions.”

Deutsche Telecom in their press release stated, “We are very happy to announce the final nominees of our T Challenge on Web3 in telecommunication. The nominees focus on innovative ideas to change the way the world uses the internet. We cannot wait for the demo day and award ceremony on May 23, 2023, to come and experiences the solutions live here in Bonn at Deutsche Telekom headquarter.”

John Saw, Executive Vice President, Advanced & Emerging Technologies at T-Mobile, added, “Each and every one of the names on this list stood out for their innovative Web3 solutions powered by 5G. They’ll spend the next few months evolving and refining their concepts that will help shape how we use the next generation of the internet.”

WEMADE blockchain metaverse gaming developer to grow gaming industry in Saudi Arabia

WEMADE blockchain metaverse gaming developer to grow gaming industry in Saudi Arabia

WEMADE, the South Korean game developer shifting to blockchain NFTs, DeFi and metaverse has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KSA based Nine66, a Savvy Games Group (“Savvy”) company, to drive the development of the gaming industry in Saudi Arabia.

Savvy’s long-term objective is to drive the long-term growth and development of the games and e-sports sectors in Saudi Arabia. The group consists of five independent entities covering areas such as game development, e-sports, investments and more.

KSA based Nine66 is committed to building and investing in the thriving gaming ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. Nine66 is driving growth and success in the region’s gaming industry through a range of initiatives and partnerships, such as publishing, incubator and accelerator programs, training and events, as well as supporting virtual and real-life game development communities.

Saudi Arabia is a strong foothold in the Middle East’s gaming market, with over 80% of its 36 million population identifying as gamers. The partnership between WEMADE and Nine66 will support the local gaming ecosystem through training and educating Saudi game developers. 

Additionally, the partnership will explore various programs aimed at knowledge transfer, sponsorship of regional events, and expanding networks in the region to help grow the Saudi gaming industry and create new opportunities for developers and gamers alike.

WEMADE recently launched its new flagship game MIR M Global on January 31, which currently tops the ranks of video games in RPG category in multiple Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia. 

Furthermore, in January 2023, WEMADE announced the establishment of a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, another gaming hub and plans to open another branch in MENA region and work with local projects and companies.

The announcement comes at a time when KSA will be hosting for the first time the Web3 Delight Summit in Riyadh KSA on March 6th 2023 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The event, which aims to engage, empower, and support a proactive, customised, collaborative, and secure advanced economy, will be attended by over 3,000 people in person and online from more than 40 countries.

Web3 Blockchain crypto accelerator and incubator launched in UAE’s DMCC

Web3 Blockchain crypto accelerator and incubator launched in UAE’s DMCC

UAE DMCC, currently home to 550 Blockchain and crypto entities, and global Web3 incubator TDEFi have partnered to launch an accelerator program for Web3 and Blockchain companies in DMCC crypto center.

The accelerator program will offer mentorship and sessions on crypto and scaling businesses. The program will be over a month long and will run for a minimum of two editions over the next 12 months. 

At the end of each cohort, TDeFi will also select a handful of start-ups to be part of its in-depth incubation program, providing them with access to additional TDeFi advisory services and its growing ecosystem.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said, “Supporting Web3 and blockchain businesses is a key priority for DMCC as we build on the success that the Crypto Centre has seen since its launch. By providing everything crypto businesses and entrepreneurs need to thrive, we have emphatically positioned Dubai as a leading hub for crypto. This latest partnership with TDeFi adds yet another string to our bow and will help emerging crypto businesses bring their ideas to light in Dubai.”

Gaurav Dubey, CEO, TDeFi, added: “Our extensive program comprises various modules that will support entrepreneurs and businesses operating within the crypto space, from ideation to scaling their start-ups. Through its Crypto Centre, DMCC has established a leading ecosystem of Web3 and blockchain businesses, and so there is no better place for us to operate our latest accelerator program. Through this new partnership, we are looking forward to unlocking some truly game-changing projects in the Web3 space.”

UAE Blockchain gaming studio secures $5 million to develop its GameFi solutions

UAE Blockchain gaming studio secures $5 million to develop its GameFi solutions

UAE based Blockchain gaming entity, iBLOXX,Studio has secured a $5 million investment in a recent funding round led by PrimeXM. The capital will be utilized to expand the company’s GameFi division. The investment brings the gaming division’s post-money valuation to 30 million USD.

The funds will be primarily used to develop iBLOXX Studios, the group´s Web3 gaming arm. iBLOXX Studios is focused on building blockchain games using Unreal Engine and Unity, developing GameFi economy health- and monitoring solutions, as well as creating trading-related blockchain applications. With this funding, iBLOXX Studios will be able to accelerate the development of its gaming offerings and expand its reach in the blockchain gaming market.

“PrimeXM, who is amongst the world’s leading providers for foreign exchange and cryptocurrency trading solutions, caters to some of the industry’s largest players, such as Saxo Bank, IG, Equity.com, SwissQuote or OKCoin. Their decision to invest in iBLOXX is a testament to their unwavering confidence in our company’s potential for growth.” said Domenik Maier, CEO of iBLOXX.

iBLOXX recceived its license from Dubai DMCC in December 2021. 

Web3 technologies in gaming represents one of the fastest-growing segments of the nearly $200 billion global gaming industry. Currently standing at $1.8 billion, revenues generated by the gaming industry in the MENA region are expected to reach $5 billion by 2025. 

Egyptian clothing brand Concrete partners with NFT marketplace Plastiks for plastic recycling project

Egyptian clothing brand Concrete partners with NFT marketplace Plastiks for plastic recycling project

Barcelona-based Blockchain enabled NFT marketplace, Plastiks, has partnered with Egyptian clothing brand Concrete, as part of plastic removal initiatives in the country. Plastiks specializes in connecting plastic recovery projects with companies and individuals across the globe who sponsor such projects. 

With its new partnership, Plastiks will facilitate the tokenization of plastic recovery projects sponsored by Concrete in Egypt. This facility, powered by blockchain technology, ensures complete transparency, monitoring, and traceability of such recovery operations.

Concrete is committed to contributing to societal and environmental sustainability. As part of this commitment the company sponsors a number of plastic removal projects in order to advance the fight against plastic pollution. 

By partnering with Plastiks, Concrete seeks to improve the lives of waste pickers by providing them with additional income and incentivizing them to recover more plastic from the environment. The first recovery project sponsored by Concrete is the Guardians of The Sea initiative, which focuses on two important regions in Egypt, the Red Sea and the Dahab region. Concrete assists in collecting and recycling plastic wastes from this vital area and helps to turn them into different products.

This partnership also enables the company to promote the purpose of sustainability projects to its consumers in a better way. Labels will be attached to Concrete’s clothing where the message of the collaboration will be placed, along with a QR code. By scanning the QR code, the consumer can visit the “Concrete Sustainability Dashboard” where they can access details of the recovery projects. The details include: where this plastic has been recovered from, the type of plastic recovered, and the invoice number can be viewed with absolute transparency.

“Our aim is not simply to compensate for plastic waste, rather we are committed to fixing the fundamental problem of lack of incentives for the waste pickers in developing countries. By connecting them with global companies, we ensure investment and expertise, thereby improving their overall operation and value perception. This enables them to work in a professional and convenient way. Our business model powered by web3 technology provides plastic collectors with additional income in exchange for the valuable project data they share. This data can be utilized by corporations to choose suitable projects for funding as part of their sustainability commitments,” says Andre Vanyi-Robin, CEO of Plastiks.

UAE ADGM and Zand digital bank to offer preferential banking services to virtual asset entities

UAE ADGM and Zand digital bank to offer preferential banking services to virtual asset entities

UAE based Abu Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Zand Bank, the UAE’s all digital bank licensed by the UAE Central Bank, have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to offer preferential banking services and efficient bank account opening  for ADGM-licensed entities, including SMEs, virtual assets companies, funds, and corporations.

Zand Bank will be the sixth bank that ADGM has partnered with in addition to other prominent banks operating in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. As per the agreement, ADGM and Zand Bank will also support the placement of Emiratis and offer finance training programs, SME financing platforms, a FinTech sandbox, and corporate innovation programs.

Commenting on this partnership, Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of ADGM, said, “We are pleased to partner with Zand Bank to collaborate on mutually beneficial initiatives and empower ADGM’s community with dedicated banking services. SMEs exist as one of the main pillars of economic diversification in the UAE and Abu Dhabi. They are important contributors to ADGM’s vibrant ecosystem. Enabling digital financial services through Zand bank in both the retail and corporate space for these SMEs is a testament to our continued efforts to support their growth and expansion in the global financial hub. We look forward to witnessing the long-term growth this impactful partnership presents to the ADGM community and the SMEs of the UAE.”

Michael Chan, CEO at Zand Bank, said, “We are delighted to partner with ADGM to support technology SMEs and start-ups across the UAE. As the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, ADGM houses a number of diverse businesses, all looking to grow and expand their footprint in the region. We strive to financially empower these businesses in the ADGM community, through our innovative, customer-centric and superior digital banking offerings.”

More than 1,000 companies established operations within the center in the first six months of last year. According to Al Mheiri, there are over 5,400 companies registered and licensed at the ADGM, with the number expected to grow.

Oman indecisive over CBDC but adamant that crypto is an asset not a currency

Oman indecisive over CBDC but adamant that crypto is an asset not a currency

During a discussion panel at the Youth Center in Muscat Oman, the Oman Central Bank governor Tahir Bin Salim Al Amri stated that the Central Bank of Oman along with many other central banks globally do not recognize crypto as currencies. He stated, “It is not a means of payment it is a commodity or an asset of some sort that is being traded mainly for capital gains.”

He also noted that while the Central Bank of Oman is keeping an open mind while maintaining caution because of the risky nature of crypto assets.

This month the Oman Capital Authority announced that it would be launching its virtual asset framework. Commenting on this the governor Al Amri stated that they were part of the creation of the framework.  He also noted that the Central Bank of Oman was in the process of developing its CBDC ( Central Bank Digital Currency), with a final decision expected to be announced at the end of 2023.

The proposed new regulatory framework is envisaged to cover activities such as crypto assets, tokens, crypto exchanges, and initial coin offerings, among others. The regulation for virtual assets in Oman is important, as it will provide a clear and secure framework for the growth of the virtual assets industry. The move towards digitalization and the adoption of virtual assets aligns with the Sultanate’s Vision 2040 of a digitally transformed economy and financial sector, while attracting foreign investments into Oman.