UAE – Smart Dubai has signed on as a Key 1 sponsor for the UNLOCK Forum on Blockchain and the Future of the Sharing Economy, organised by Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group.

The UNLOCK Forum, which will be held between January 14th and 15th of 2018 in Dubai, UAE, will bring together leading international experts on Blockchain technology, as well as more than 400 attendees from across the region. The forum aims not only to increase awareness and knowhow on Blockchain technology and its implementation across various sectors, but also to showcase Dubai Blockchain Strategy’s achievements and future plans for 2020 and beyond. Dubai is revered as one of the only governments globally to have embraced Blockchain in its entirety and across the full spectrum of government services where the technology could be applied.  

Smart Dubai is the office driving Dubai’s citywide smart transformation with a vision to make Dubai the happiest city on Earth. It is the key entity behind implementing the Dubai Blockchain Strategy announced by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).

“Dubai has been making great strides in its citywide smart transformation, tapping all cutting-edge technologies in an effort to tailor them to cater to the needs of its citizens,” said H.E. Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office. “The Dubai has taken a confident lead in launching bold and pragmatic initiatives and projects that use technology to make people’s lives easier and happier. We, at Smart Dubai, are committed to achieving our mission and objectives to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world and are always ready to provide support for and share our extensive expertise with events and projects that can spread progress and happiness in Dubai and the UAE.”

For his part, Wesam Lootah, CEO of Smart Dubai Government Establishment (SDG) added, “Blockchain is one of the most revolutionary breakthroughs humanity has had in recent years, but the world remains hesitant – and, at times, averse – to explore and use the technology to its full potential. This is not the case in Dubai, where the government launched the Dubai Blockchain Strategy to become the first government in the world to completely forego paper transactions and carry out all of its business through Blockchain technology by 2020. Dubai also recently held the Global Blockchain Challenge, through which we sought to offer a glimpse and a roadmap to the endless opportunities that this technology can offer.”

Blockchain is considered to be the most innovative invention in the past 200 years. It is already being implemented across the financial sector, supply-chain operations, venture capitalist sector, retail, real-estate and more. However, seeing as it is a nascent technology, there is still a lot to learn as it grows and establishes itself.  

Walid Abou Zaki, Executive Director of Al-Iktissad Wal-Amaal, stated, “Unlike the days of the internet boom, innovation today is not only a Silicon Valley trademark; today, with mobile, internet, and the proliferation of technology, the MENA region can embark and build its own innovative Blockchain solutions, applications and platforms. With the support of pioneering governments such as Dubai, it is possible to build an ecosystem that can export expertise to the rest of the world. We are proud to be holding this conference in Dubai, with the support of Smart Dubai, and invite all to participate in creating the future today.”

For more information on UNLOCK Forum please visit www.unlock-bc.com

About Smart Dubai

Smart Dubai is anchored in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to make Dubai the happiest city on earth.

Collaborating with private sector and government partners, Smart Dubai is the government office charged with facilitating Dubai’s citywide smart transformation, to empower, deliver and promote an efficient, seamless, safe and impactful city experience for residents and visitors.

Smart Dubai is committed to a collaborative and agile approach to Dubai’s smart city transformation, empowering strategic partnerships with the public sector, private sector and academia to design and implement services and elevate citywide thought leadership, in line with its mission to make Dubai the happiest city on earth through technology innovation.

About Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal

Over the last 26 years Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal has grown to become a leading force in conference organization and business events in the Middle East and North Africa region. The group’s consistent success and impeccable delivery has been acknowledged by governments, business organizations, industries as well as thousands of participants, commercial sponsors, speakers and the media.

Most importantly, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal success has been encompassing all aspects of the conference business from concept development to theme setting and developing the agenda, to speakers’ selection and engagement and to marketing, communications and seamless and professional handling of the event itself; a range of services that offers integrated and full-fledged solutions to the needs of government and private sector organizations.

On the back of this impressive track record, Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal has become the preferred conference partner of government and private sector organizations that are seeking well designed, smooth and problem free handling of global conferences and strategic business events. www.iktissadevents.com

© Press Release 2017