Middle East

Cryptocurrency

Egypt Lifts Ban, Will Allow Licensed Cryptocurrency Companies

Egypt is considering legislation that would let the central bank issue licenses for cryptocurrency-related activities.

Business  ·  29 May 2019
Payments

National Bank of Kuwait Taps Ripple for New Remittance Service

National Bank of Kuwait has joined Ripple’s blockchain-based payments network seeking faster cross-border money transfers.

Tech  ·  28 December 2018
Payments

UAE Remittance Firm Launching Ripple-Based Payments in Q1 2019

Abu Dhabi-based money transmitter UAE Exchange is working with Ripple to launch blockchain remittances to Asia early next year.

Business  ·  13 December 2018
Exchanges

Middle East’s First Central Bank-Backed Crypto Exchange to Launch in 2019

After a year in the Central Bank of Bahrain's regulatory sandbox, Rain Financial is gearing up to offer crypto on-ramps from all regional currencies.

Policy & regulation  ·  9 October 2018
Exchanges

Abu Dhabi Markets Watchdog Mulls Crypto Exchange Regulations

Abu Dhabi's markets regulator is considering drawing up a supervisory framework for cryptocurrency exchange operations.

Policy & regulation  ·  12 February 2018
Regulation

Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance Says It Does Not Recognize Bitcoin

Kuwait's Ministry of Finance has reportedly said it does not recognize bitcoin, and that financial institutions may not trade the cryptocurrency.

Policy & regulation  ·  19 December 2017
Real Estate

Dubai Land Department Launches Blockchain Real Estate Initiative

The Dubai Land Department is framing a new real estate blockchain as a way to build investor confidence and add conveniences for tenants.

Markets  ·  10 October 2017
Banking

Bahrain’s Bank ABC Joins R3 Distributed Ledger Consortium

Bahrain-based Arab Banking Corporation, also known as Bank ABC, has revealed it is joining the R3 distributed ledger consortium.

Business  ·  15 August 2017
Investments

Blockchain Startup ArabianChain Nets $817k from New Investor

A UAE-based public blockchain startup has received $817,000 in funding from a private investor.

Business  ·  18 July 2017
Banking

Blockchain and the Birth of a New Financial Instrument

A less-hyped blockchain trial in the Middle East could come to have a big impact on banking.

Business  ·  19 June 2017
Payments

UAE’s Emirates Islamic Bank Launches Blockchain Check Service

A trial that examines how blockchain could play a role in paper check management is moving forward at Emirates NBD.

Business  ·  12 June 2017
Startups

BitOasis Expands Credit Card Bitcoin Buying to 5 New Countries

Dubai-based bitcoin startup BitOasis is expanding its presence outside the UAE with a new announcement.

Business  ·  27 March 2017
Ethereum

Dubai Government Taps IBM For City-Wide Blockchain Pilot Push

Dubai has announced new strategic partnerships as part of its quest to put all government documents on blockchains by 2020.

Markets  ·  14 March 2017
News

Fire, Flesh & Blockchain: Dubai’s DED Sees Truth as Economic Enabler

An official leading the charge to migrate Dubai's government documents to the blockchain explains why he believes in its disruptive potential.

Markets  ·  12 March 2017
Startups

2020 Vision: Why Startups Believe Blockchain Will Go Live in Dubai

Blockchain startups are jumping at the opportunity to work in a rare region of the world where the rewards are real for industry doers.

Business  ·  9 March 2017