Kevin O’Leary, Chairman of O’Leary Ventures and star of ABC’s Shark Tank, will deliver the keynote speech at the first edition of the Middle East Blockchain Awards (MEBA), held on 18 November at the W Abu Dhabi.
O’Leary will be heading to Abu Dhabi as Ambassador of a business expansion initiative called Access Abu Dhabi – a Maven Global Access (MGA) program powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office that ultimately serves as a conduit for companies entering the capital city’s burgeoning business and innovation ecosystem. As part of the MGA program, O’Leary has made three trips to Abu Dhabi in the last two years and is at the forefront of investing in Web 3.0 ventures, having significant interest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies in particular.
Established to recognise and reward outstanding efforts within blockchain and Web 3.0 innovation, MEBA is hosted by Hoko Agency Middle East in association with Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and the Middle East, Africa and Asia Crypto and Blockchain Association (MEAACBA).
Bally Singh, Chairman and Co-Founder of Hoko Group, said: “It’s a massive honour to have Kevin O’Leary deliver a keynote speech at the first edition of the Middle East Blockchain Awards. He’s a well-respected and renowned personality on an international level, especially for his work with blockchain and crypto. This is a phenomenal start to what we’re sure will become a long-lived series of Awards ceremonies recognising some of the region’s finest Web 3.0 achievements.”
The Middle East Blockchain Awards are supported by GEM Digital Limited as headline sponsor, with supporting sponsors including Abu Dhabi Residents Office, a division of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED); Inery Blockchain, a layer-1 blockchain solution offering decentralised database management solution, and Everdome, the digital frontier’s first hyper-realistic metaverse.
MEBA winners will be chosen by a panel of prestigious expert judges, including Dr Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO of Dubai Blockchain Centre (DBCC); Jehanzeb Awan, Board Member of MEAACBA, Founding Partner and CEO of J. Awan and Partners; Miriam Kiwan, Former Head of Digital Assets at ADGM, Board Member at BlackOack Global; Misha Hanin, co-founder and Futurist at Bedu; Saqr Ereiqat, Co-Founder and CCO of Crypto Oasis, and Matthew Amlot, Managing Editor of Arabian Business.
MEBA will be held in the stunning Palm Garden at the five-star W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island on 18 November 2022 in the midst of the high-energy F1 Race Weekend. The black-tie event promises a spectacular evening of recognition, insight and entertainment, attended by high-profile individuals from across the GCC.
Abu Dhabi was chosen as the host city for the inaugural awards because of the UAE leadership’s commitment to progression and innovation in blockchain and digital transformation. The UAE as a whole has made significant moves towards the regulation, safety and transparency of blockchain and digital assets, driving the importance of global standards for industry compliance that will benefit all aspects of Web 3.0. This forward-thinking approach has attracted numerous global players to establish their presence in the emirates, creating a strong ecosystem that contributes towards its reputation as a hub for crypto and beyond.
Award categories include Most Innovative DeFi Platform 2022, Most Promising DEX to Watch 2022, Best Crypto Exchange 2022, Best Mobile Crypto Wallet 2022, Best NFT Marketplace 2022, Best Crypto Investment Fund 2022, Most Promising Web 3.0 Ecosystem 2022, Best Nft & Gamefi Project 2022, Top Global Crypto Youtuber / Influencer 2022, Most Influential Woman in Blockchain & Crypto 2022, Most Influential CMO in Blockchain & Crypto 2022, Most Influential Global Crypto News Service 2022, Most Influential CEO In Blockchain & Crypto 2022, Most Promising ESG Crypto Project and Editor’s Choice for Best Web3 Campaign.
Entries can be submitted www.mebawards.io
About ADFW
Building on ADGM’s success of its flagship initiative Fintech Abu Dhabi since 2017, which attracted 18,500 participants, 200+ speakers, 100+ startups and 75+ ecosystem partners. Abu Dhabi Finance Week is a week-long engagement addressing a spectrum of economic issues: financial technology & innovation, startups & enterprise, venture funding & investment, asset management & capital markets, economic policy & regulation.
About Hoko Abu Dhabi
Hoko Agency is a diversified and innovative company that owns and operates a diverse portfolio of businesses within the sectors of Finance, Blockchain, Entertainment, Sport and F&B. Hoko strives to be the best-in-class in each of their service lines; offering quality products, world class service and fitting solutions that go beyond the industry’s expectations.
About MEAACBA
The Middle East, Africa and Asia Crypto and Blockchain Association is a not-for-profit member-driven organisation, headquartered in Abu Dhabi and supported by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The Association has cross-industry representation and has been formed to support the development of accessible, transparent, and compliant crypto-blockchain ecosystems. It is controlled by a Board of highly respected industry specialists and supported by an Advisory Board of notable practitioners and business owners. For more information please go to www.meaacba.org
About Access Abu Dhabi
Access Abu Dhabi is a Maven Global Access program designed to engage, enable and empower women-led companies to fast track their global reach with expansion to Abu Dhabi. Powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the program serves as a conduit for companies entering the capital of UAE’s burgeoning business and innovation ecosystem.
The program was founded by award-winning entrepreneur, Sarah Omolewu, who is the driving force behind the expansion of numerous brands to the Middle East, including Tyra Bank’s SMiZE Cream and NBA legend Metta World Peace’s Artest Management Group. Omolewu has been recognized as one of the “Top 100 most influential people in the UAE” three years in a row for pioneering several regional firsts and leveraging celebrities to amplify brand marketing.
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