UBITQUITY, a blockchain and real estate technology company for Real World Assets for web3 is thrilled has partnered with BENMARG Group, a luxury real estate agency based in Dubai, UAE. This to enhance the luxury real estate market by showcasing BENMARG Group’s exquisite property listings on CryptoListing, a prominent platform for real estate transactions using cryptocurrencies as well as enabled cryptocurrency transactions for these luxury properties through UBITQUITY’s innovative UbitquityPay service.

BENMARG Group is renowned for curating an exclusive portfolio of luxury real estate offerings in Dubai and beyond. The company’s commitment to delivering exceptional properties that cater to the most discerning clientele aligns perfectly with the capabilities of CryptoListing and UbitquityPay.

CryptoListing, a bleeding-edge platform, provides a secure and transparent environment for the purchase and sale of real estate using cryptocurrencies. This collaboration will allow BENMARG Group to tap into the growing global market of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors who seek luxury properties as a store of value and investment.

UBITQUITY, LLC’s UbitquityPay service is designed to streamline cryptocurrency transactions for real estate, offering both buyers and sellers a simplified and efficient process. This service will enable BENMARG Group’s clients to seamlessly complete cryptocurrency transactions when purchasing these high-end properties.

“We are excited to collaborate with UBITQUITY, LLC, to bring our luxury real estate listings to the CryptoListing platform. This partnership allows us to cater to a tech-savvy and global audience while providing a secure and efficient way to transact in cryptocurrencies,” said George Gabriel of BENMARG Group.

“BENMARG Group’s commitment to excellence in luxury real estate aligns perfectly with our mission to bring innovation to the real estate industry. We look forward to enabling seamless cryptocurrency transactions for their prestigious properties through UbitquityPay,” said Nathan Wosnack, Founder & CEO of UBITQUITY.

Representatives from both BENMARG Group and UBITQUITY are currently at the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai, UAE.

Concurrently UBITQUITY and Women in Blockchain Canada have joined Forces to Fundraise and Forge Enterprise Partnerships as well as bring its tech innovations to MENA at Future Blockchain Summit.

USA based Fluent Finance, a blockchain enabled fintech infrastructure company responsible for developing the connections from core banking to public layers, bridging Web2 to Web3 utilizing the Fluent Protocol, has joined UAE’s Ministry of Economy NextGEN FDI program as Fluent plans to launch its operations in Abu Dhabi and expand its workforce in the UAE to 125 people in the next five years.

Fluent is working to issue deposit tokens which are stable-valued, regulatory-compliant digital assets interoperable with core banking systems. With Fluent, banks may issue fiat-equivalent tokens directly to public blockchains based on outstanding customer deposits and central bank-issued CBDCs.

Fluent will use its new UAE headquarters to deploy and scale its proprietary Fluent Economic Bridge, which can be used by importers and exporters to settle transactions via stablecoins or, increasingly, deposit tokens.

They are already piloting the platform in Kenya, and now hope to develop a digital trade corridor with the UAE.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said Fluent’s participation in the NextGen FDI initiative underlines the UAE’s status as a hub for global trade and a supportive ecosystem for new technologies such as blockchain: “The UAE has become a prominent advocate for the modernization of the multilateral trading system, as well as a supportive place for the development of the tools and applications that can deliver it. I am optimistic about the possibilities of the Fluent Economic Bridge, and the potential for digital currencies to improve the efficiency and accessibility of global supply chains. In the build-up to the World Trade Organisation’s 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in February next year, encouraging platforms such as those developed by Fluent will offer an important proof point for the UAE’s leadership on trade technology.”

Bradley Allgood, Fluent Finance’s Chief Executive Officer, said the UAE was the obvious place in which to launch Fluent Economic Bridge. “The UAE offers exactly the kind of supportive, enabling environment that Web3 companies such as Fluent require. The combination of thoughtful regulation, forward-looking vision and advanced technology ambitions means we have the right foundations on which to develop our product and grow our organization. Importantly, this is also an important trade crossroads, which provides a multitude of opportunities to deploy our platform. We genuinely believe that, with the right support, we can transform Fluent Economic Bridge into the next unicorn.”

UAE Enjinstarter launched in 2021 as a Launchpad, incubator, crowd funding, and advisory platform for Web3 metaverse, gaming, entertainment and impact and sustainable projects has announced the launch of AYA, ( means miracle in Arabic) dedicated to empowering innovators to tackle climate challenges.

“MENA is at the forefront of climate change, with temperatures expected to rise by 2.5 degrees by 2050. The UAE is emerging as a global leader in sustainability and Web3, attracting builders, investors, and climate warriors,” says Prakash Somosundram, our CEO.

With a focus on areas like reforestation, mangrove conservation, and sustainable agriculture, AYA aims to bridge the climate financing gap, offering a platform for high-impact startups to access innovative technologies, raise funds, and leverage tokenized carbon credits.

At the beginning of 2023, Enjinstarter appointed Vasseh Ahmed as the new Managing Director to lead the Web3 efforts in the MENA region. Vasseh spoke with LaraontheBlock discussing Enjinstarter’s plans to help companies reach their Web3 ambitions while positioning Enjinstarter as the go to provider for impact and sustainability projects.

In the interview Ahmed states, “Web3 has a major role to play in addressing the climate crisis. Carbon credits, in particular, can benefit from Web3’s underlying technology to increase transparency and accessibility. We want to support projects that are looking for ways to shift incentives away from exploitation and toward preservation and regeneration.”

In May 2023 EnjinStarter MENA, a web3 Launchpad and incubator, became the first Launchpad globally to receive initial approval by Dubai’s virtual asset regulatory authority.

UAE based Solarix Ventures is seeking to invest in Web3 technology entities and will be participatiog at the Abu Dhabi Family office Summit on the 23rd of November 2023.

The UAE’s Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which is autonomously regulated, has proposed a new securities digital asset law in a new consultation paper.

The new Law of Security and related amendments to select existing legislation will cater to the requirements of the DIFC’s proposed digital assets regime to other DIFC laws. The proposed legislative enactments, and amendments to existing legislation, aim to ensure DIFC Laws keep pace with the rapid developments in international trade and financial markets arising from technological developments, and to provide legal certainty for investors in, and users of, digital Assets.

Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer at DIFC, commented: “DIFC is excited to announce a proposed new Digital Assets Law and new Law of Security regime. DIFC has been working closely with experts in the field of digital assets and banking and finance to create a groundbreaking Digital Assets Law, and in doing so proposes a significantly enhanced and updated Law of Security regime. The proposed Digital Assets Law sets out the legal characteristics of a digital asset, its proprietary nature, how it may be controlled, transferred, and dealt with by interested parties. The proposed new Law of Security is modeled on the UNCITRAL Model on Secured Transactions and has been adapted to take account of specific factors relating to DIFC. We believe these proposals will put DIFC’s legal and regulatory framework at the forefront of international best practice.”

The UNCITRAL Model Law on Secured Transactions (the “Model Law”) deals with security interests in all types of tangible and intangible movable property, such as goods, receivables, bank accounts, negotiable instruments, negotiable documents, non-intermediated securities and intellectual property with few exceptions, such as intermediated securities.

In the press release DIFC states, that digital Assets, such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs, stablecoins and security tokens, represent a trillion-dollar asset class and the scope for future innovation and market opportunities within it are considerable. Thus far the primary focus in many jurisdictions has been to regulate and impose enforcement related sanctions on some of the practical applications of this asset class from a regulated financial services perspective.

However, the fundamental benefits brought about by blockchain technology, the digital assets that can be created thereby, and their application across a wide spectrum of use cases will grow and become of increasing importance in a much wider context.

In this regard, the broader legal questions as to the exact nature of the legal features and impact of digital assets remains open for debate on several key issues. International legal developments and judgments across the common law world have begun to provide some clarity in this regard but has, to date, not yet provided a comprehensive legal framework mapping out the full extent of the legal characteristics of a digital asset and how users and investors within this asset class may interact with digital assets and each other.

Following extensive review of the legal approaches taken to digital assets in multiple jurisdictions, DIFC is now publishing for public consultation its own Digital Assets Law proposal to provide such a comprehensive framework in DIFC. In addition, the legislative proposal also proposes changes to other cornerstone DIFC laws, including the Contract Law, the Insolvency Law, the Law of Obligations, the Trust Law, and the Foundations Law to cater to the requirements of digital assets in the larger legal framework of the DIFC.

Similarly, a great deal of innovation has taken place in secured transactions regimes internationally – particularly since the current Law of Security was enacted in 2005. This includes the emergence of businesses and platforms that enable the extension of credit in, and secured or covered by, digital asset collateral arrangements, and an increasing drive to digitize international trade.

Following consideration of regimes in other jurisdictions and particularly UNCITRAL’s Model Law on Secured Transaction, in conjunction with the proposed new Digital Assets Law, DIFC proposes to repeal the current Law of Security, and to significantly amend and enhance DIFC’s securities regime. This will align the regime with international best practice and provide clarity in relation to taking security over digital assets. In doing so, the DIFC also proposes to repeal the current Financial Collateral Regulations and amalgamate the financial collateral provisions into a new chapter of the proposed new Law of Security.

The proposed legislative changes contained in Consultation Papers No. 4 and No. 5 of 2023 have been posted for an extended 40-day public consultation period with the deadline for providing comments ending on 5 November 2023. The Consultation Papers are available on the DIFC Legal Database.

The proposed amendments reflect the Centre’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with global best practice.

Dubai regulated virtual asset broker and exchange TOKO FZE a creation of international law firm DLA Piper, has partnered with  Virtuzone, a pioneer in business solutions and corporate services for the region. The partnership will include the establishment of a tokenized equity crowd funding platform will further cement Dubai’s standing at the forefront of financial innovative and as a destination for early stage and fast growth companies seeking a supportive business environment.

TOKO has just received a fully operational license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA).The partnership with Virtuzone is set to transform early-stage private equity fund raising using blockchain technology to bring enhanced transparency, accessibility, and opportunity for both investors and the businesses seeking to raise funds. Across a variety of compelling businesses, investors will have greater insight, information and access to private equities for their portfolio and the expectation of greater liquidity that comes with this digital transformation.Scott Thiel, Managing Director of TOKO, says “The VARA regulatory framework has been custom designed for virtual asset transactions, providing a robust and clear route to market that is going to support the transformation of investments and facilitate financial inclusion.  We are excited to be partnering with Virtuzone in tokenising early-stage equity investments. At TOKO, we believe in improving the world and reshaping the virtual asset management landscape through cutting-edge technology, regulatory compliance, and a user-centric approach, and this partnership with Virtuzone provides a wonderful platform to achieve this”.By tokenising early equity offerings, TOKO and Virtuzone will open up access to a broader range of investors, allowing both institutional and individual investors to participate in a more accessible and transparent manner.The partnership is poised to take full advantage of VARA’s regulatory framework to drive positive change in the financial services sector. It will create a revolutionary platform for SME-sized companies, enabling them to engage in early equity fundraising with ease.Neil Petch, Chairman and Co-founder of Virtuzone, says: “Since our founding 14 years ago, our mission remains the same – to ease the way for entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs and equip them with all the tools they need to succeed. We are therefore thrilled to partner with TOKO, under the VARA regulatory framework, and introduce tokenised equity offerings, which we believe will make Dubai an even more attractive destination for startups and entrepreneurs seeking funding, as well as for angel investors and venture capitalists looking to be part of Dubai’s thriving business sector. Our strategic collaboration with TOKO also aligns with the UAE’s National Entrepreneurship Agenda, which aims to establish the UAE as home to 10 unicorn companies by 2031.”This partnership between TOKO and Virtuzone represents a transformative step forward in the evolution of Dubai’s innovative financial landscape. By introducing tokenised early equity fund offerings, the collaboration will not only empower businesses but also create exciting opportunities for investors.

Out of over 100 plus applications, UAE based Aurus, which tokenizes precious metals including gold, silver and platinum using blockchain technology, has been selected as one of the 25 companies that will be joining Dubai’s DMCC ( Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) and TDeFi accelerator program.

The accelerator program is aimed towards Web3 and Blockchain companies based out of Dubai offering mentorship, support, and business scaling opportunities.  The acceleration program kicks off on September 5th, 2023, with a range of mentor sessions covering legal and compliance, web3 marketing, fundraising, and token economics. Participants are able to gain practical experience by using their own projects as case studies during workshops on token economics and token markets management. The program culminates in a Demo and Pitch Day, with 20+ venture capitalists and investors serving as judges, representing over $IBn in cumulative AUM.

The program’s conclusion is more than just a pitching session. It’s a doorway to connect with an expansive network of Funds, VCs, and Partners. It’s the day where projects can truly shine and kickstart their fundraising sprint.

Aurus was selected as one of the 25 companies because of its unique selling points that includes solutions to make it easy to buy, trade, and store precious metals (gold, silver and platinum), grams at a time, 24/7, at minimal fees, at the convenience of your mobile phone.

In addition, Aurus is at the forefront of tokenization of real-world assets, pioneering use cases for precious metals that were previously unfathomable. Bridging the gap, and addressing various use cases in several new untapped markets such as Payments, DeFi, gaming, NFTs, and Web3.

Aurus adheres the strictest standards and is one of few projects truly compliant within the current regulatory framework. Operations are conducted by the Aurus Foundation in the UK where we received the regulatory nod in 2020, and Aurus Markets DMCC in the UAE, which is licenced by the DMCC.

Aurus is also gearing towards the launch of several products, such as the first NFT collection backed by precious metals which will be launched on February 2024. Aurus is also entering the DeFi world with gold. Precious metals as a financial primitive (collateral) in DeFi protocols. That is, PMs as a productive yield-bearing asset with the ability to earn a yield by providing liquidity in DeFi.

Aurus is also utilizing gold in gaming with the ability to create sustainable real-asset-backed in-game economies by bringing precious metal-backed tokens and NFTs to online games, as well as gold as a payment: a network of stable value transfer in the global payments market. The Aurus Vault Card V2 is soon to launch, enabling users to spend precious metals via the Mastercard network.

UAE based Chalhoub Group’s SOL3MATES future sneakers NFTs pre sale will be launched today on  May 4th while MasterCard has launched its Music Pass NFT Web3 training program for emerging musical artists and Music fans in the MENA region and Healthvarsity has launched the biggest GCC online learning platform for health professionals, using AI and NFT certificates built on blockchain technology.

Rijal Hikmatullah Co -Founder of SOL3MATES part of Chalhoub Group announced on LinkediN, “In just 3 days, SOL3MATES by Chalhoub Group is releasing a one-of-a-kind NFT that will be a game changer for the Industry. The NFTs are not just a digital asset, but an access pass to enter the SOL3MATES ecosystem that empowers sneaker designers, a community-centric platform and exclusive perks. Yes… we are releasing a physical sneaker with perks.”

The perks include access to SOL3MATES sneakers, free shipping, lifetime discounts, etc, in addition to partner perks which allow access to token gated benefits and membership perks with access to giveaways, and next SOL3MATES sneaker drop.

There will be only 10,000 NFTs for its first collection priced at 0.03 ETH which can also be purchased at luxury NFT marketplace Exclusible.

“We are a sneaker brand first, and an NFT project second,” stated Nick Vinckier, Head of Corporate Innovation at Chalhoub Group and Founder of SOL3MATES. “Our aim is to create the sneaker brand of the future born from web3 technology and mechanics such as gamification, community and decentralization. The entire customer journey is created in such a way where we merge the best of the virtual and physical experience. With the launch of our first collection, and all future collections, our focus is on adding value to our community over time.”

Each SOL3MATES sneaker will be equipped with an NFC tag linking the physical shoe with blockchain-enabled authentication to track the sneaker ownership and providing more product information to the end user. And the SOL3MATES community will get access to rare sneaker giveaways, hype sneakers at retail, free SOL3MATES merchandise, meetups and more.

Additionally Mastercard Music Pass NFT is now available for music fans from Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa and around the world. These fans can participate with the limited release Mastercard Music Pass NFT being minted on Polygon

Music Pass NFT unlocks access to exclusive content and experiences from the Mastercard Artist Accelerator. The unique program will prepare five emerging musical artists from around the world with the tools and skills to harness Web3 technologies to reimagine their creative processes and grow their careers in the digital economy. Artists will learn how to use Web3 tools to create original tracks, which will be redeemable as NFTs as well as performed live by the artists in a special showcase.

Nigerian R&B/Afrobeats record producer and songwriter LeriQ join four other musicians from around the world for the Mastercard Artist Accelerator: Cocoa Sarai, a hip-hop artist from Brooklyn; Vietnamese American-singer Emily Vu; Manu Manzo, a Latin pop artist from Venezuela; and Young Athena, a London-based R&B soul singer and BRIT School alumna. The participating artists represent a range of genres and backgrounds and were chosen because of their unique story, sound and inclusion-focused mindset.

“One of the incredible things about Web3 technologies, and NFTs in particular, are the way in which they offer creators more flexibility and ownership of their content, while generating exciting new ways for fans to engage with their art,” said Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, EEMEA. “The Mastercard Artist Accelerator program and Mastercard Music Pass give us an opportunity to harness NFTs for both of these exciting purposes, while helping to support some of the most vibrant, diverse young artists in the world today.”

The Mastercard Music Pass NFT is being minted on the Polygon blockchain and is free to redeem until 8 May.

Healthvarsity edtech venture launched the biggest GCC online learning platform for health professionals, using AI and NFT certificates built on blockchain technology. It will offer more than 200 courses for up skilling doctors nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and aspiring medical students, among others.  On completion of each course, they receive a certificate on blockchain to maintain security and authenticity.

Going forward, the platform will also introduce features such as an AI-based Virtual Instructor, AI-based Virtual Mentor and AI-based Virtual Assessor.

UAE-based social networking and content monetization platform Lyvely,  that provides an integrated multimedia e-commerce and payments solution, has successfully raised an undisclosed amount from UAE based Cypher Capital, an early strategy venture firm.

Lyvely soft launched early this month (August) and is already experiencing rapid growth and user adoption.  Led by experienced cofounders, Farah Zafar and Dave Catudal, Lyvely aims to compete with Big Tech global giants and revolutionize the current social networking and social e-commerce landscape. 

“We are the world’s first social networking profile that pays,” says Zafar, who is Lyvely’s Co-Founder and CEO. Every time you post content on Big Tech platforms, they make money. When was the last time you got a cheque or received a payment from Instagram? It just doesn’t work that way in Big Tech because it’s a biased and broken system. Lyvely’s doing it differently. We’re the Platform for the People. Our commitment to our users is to reward them fairly for their contribution to the Lyvely ecosystem. Our mission is to empower people to thrive in this new digital age.”

With the recent funding round led by Cypher Capital, Lyvely has a strategic advantage in the Web3 space. With Cypher Capital’s support, Lyvely will be developing a Cryptocurrency Token that seamlessly integrates into the platform, enhancing the user experience and earning potential on Lyvely.

“We’re designed as a familiar and intuitive Web2 platform, but we’re actually the bridge to a Web3 future for hundreds of millions of people” says Dave Catudal, Lyvely Co-Founder and CXO. “We’re here to create the #1 platform for anyone to monetize their content or services online. With our Token having extensive utility within our platform, we introduce the use of cryptocurrency to the masses, with zero barrier to entry.”

Joining the ranks of Lyvely’s advisory board are Bijan Alizadeh, the Co-Founder of Phoenix Group and Co-Founder of Cypher Capital, and Bill Qian, Chairman of Cypher Capital.

Bijan Alizadeh said “Lyvely is a company that excites us because of the quality of the founders, and the vision they have for becoming the bridge to Web3 for the masses. With Lyvely’s platform, they have seamlessly integrated a tokenized ecosystem using a Web2 user experience and have created a fully integrated platform that revolutionizes the way people make money online. We believe in its future and potential.”

In a recent LinkedIn post, Henk Jan Hoogendoorn , Chief Financial Sector Officer at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority revealed that the digital assets framework that the authority has been working on will soon be launched along with the digital asset lab.

As noted, QFC is working with Price Waterhouse Cooper ( PWC) to finalize the digital assets framework and the launch of the digital assets lab.

As Hoogendoorn noted, “ We are working on digitalassets framework together with Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) supported by the expertise of PwC .We are making good progress on preparation of Digital Asset Lab to be launched soon.”

Prior to this Qatar Financial Authority had taken several inititiatves towards advancing DLT, Blockchain and digital assets within the financial sector.

In May speaking to LaraontheBlock, Hoogendoorn stated, “We are developing our digital assets framework to allow for public tokenization of assets, including securities, bonds, and real-estate.” He emphasized that they will not go into crypto, NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens) or commodities at this time.

In addition Qatar Financial Centre Authority and Blockchain solution provider R3 signed an MOU to develop and grow Qatar’s fintech industry using technologies such as DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology), as well as an MOU with Blockchain entity Settlemint.

In August 2022 Qatar had released a national consultation paper about the “National Blockchain Blueprint for Qatar”. The paper was collaboratively developed by CRA, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Qatar University. The final version was released in March 2023.

Again it seems countries across the GCC and MENA region are embracing blockchain, digital assets, and to some degree virtual assets, the future is looking crypto bright.

Saudi Arabia is moving forward with Blockchain and Web3 with partnerships such as the one between Indian Beyond Imagination technologies, a blockchain Web3 tech company and Saudi Aba’ad Alkhayal software company Co-founded by Princess Hesah Al Saud.

With this partnership Beyond Imagination technologies will expand into the Middle East.

Aba’ad Alkhayal is a Saudi-based software company that leverages the latest technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to help businesses thrive in the digital age.

The partnership aims  to ideate, develop, and deploy solutions that will help Middle East clients with blockchain. The move comes as part of the company’s commitment to fostering blockchain adoption and innovation across various industries in the region.

“We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey, committed to reshaping the future of technology,” said Princess Hesah Al Saud, Co-Founder, Aba’ad Alkhayal. “With this partnership, we envision a future where we harness the power of blockchain to unlock the full potential of our economy. This new beginning will pave the way for digital transformation, creating countless employment opportunities for our citizens and empowering our students with the knowledge and skills needed to embrace this digital revolution. Thus, we aim to drive positive social impact and create a better tomorrow in Saudi Arabia through technology.”

Beyond Imagination Technologies will provide its flagship solution BitMemoir to Aba’ad Alkhayal, which will help clients with digital certifications. Users can convert personal identifiers, property documents, and other sensitive materials into digital certificates, or NFTs, and store them in their own wallets. By utilizing blockchain technology, BitMemoir enables users to own their personal documents in perpetuity.

“We are excited to bring our cutting-edge blockchain solution to the Middle East, “said Mr. Nikhil Goyal, Co-Founder – Technology, Aba’ad Alkhayal. “Our expansion into this dynamic region marks a significant milestone in our journey to revolutionize industries and empower businesses with the potential of blockchain technology. We firmly believe that blockchain has the power to reshape the future, and we are committed to being at the forefront of this transformation.”

He further added, “By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to unleash the full potential of its citizens and resources, embracing digital transformation to forge a brighter, interconnected future for all. This ambitious path includes the transformation of the Kingdom into a fully digitized society, a beacon of technological advancement and innovation. Thus, being the frontrunners in the blockchain space, we want to contribute to this aim of the nation to our full potential.”

As part of its expansion strategy, Beyond Imagination Technologies plans to establish more regional offices and collaborate with local partners to enhance its reach and support customers more effectively. By engaging with the vibrant Middle Eastern community, Beyond Imagination Technologies seeks to foster knowledge sharing, workshops, and events to promote blockchain education and awareness.