
Abu Dhabi to host 2nd edition of Bitcoin MENA in December
ABU DHABI (WAM)Building on the landmark success of the inaugural Bitcoin MENA conference in December 2024, ADNEC Group & BTC Inc Group on Monday announced the return of Bitcoin MENA to Abu Dhabi for a second edition, set to take place on December 8-9, 2025.Scheduled to open the day after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, the event will once again take over the Marina Hall at ADNEC Centre — this time with expanded exhibition space, an enhanced outdoor area, world-class speakers and premium networking experiences, including yachts berthed at the venue.The 2024 debut established Bitcoin MENA as the premier Bitcoin gathering in the Middle East and North Africa, bringing together influential voices from government, business, and finance. It attracts over 10,000 visitors, 190 speakers, 100 exhibitors, and 500 brands.The last year's headline speakers included Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation; Prince Filip of Serbia; Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard; Abdulla Al Dhaheri of the Blockchain Centre Abu Dhabi; Paul Manafort, Former Campaign Manager for Trump 2016; and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East under the Trump Administration.Humaid Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said, 'The return of Bitcoin MENA to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi reflects the city's growing influence as a global destination for digital asset dialogue and innovation.This event is a strategic addition to our dynamic calendar, reinforcing ADNEC Group's role in convening cutting-edge conversations and fostering meaningful partnerships across emerging industries. As we expand the platform in 2025, we look forward to supporting BTC Inc. in delivering an even more impactful edition that connects global visionaries with the region's forward-thinking ecosystem.''The Middle East is rapidly becoming a centre of gravity for Bitcoin adoption and policy innovation,' said David Bailey, CEO of BTC Inc. 'The response to last year's event was overwhelming. In 2025, we're scaling everything — from speaker programming and exhibition space to VIP experiences and side events — to match the global importance of this region.'
New features for Bitcoin MENA 2025 include: Expanded Exhibit Hall: A larger footprint will accommodate more companies, startups, and activations, showcasing the latest in Bitcoin infrastructure, mining, financial services, and software.Enhanced Outdoor Activation Zone: A redesigned open-air space optimized for networking, live content, food, and cultural programming.Strategic Timing: The conference opens the day after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, offering international visitors an unparalleled experience at the intersection of sport, technology, and finance.Elevated Side Events: A curated calendar of receptions, workshops, and satellite events will surround the main program, creating opportunities for deeper engagement across the Bitcoin ecosystem.
With the UAE's zero VAT on Bitcoin transactions and ongoing government support for digital asset innovation, Abu Dhabi has quickly emerged as a pivotal node in Bitcoin's global expansion. Bitcoin MENA 2025 is set to reflect and accelerate that momentum.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
UAE family businesses strengthen growth, contribution to national economy
ABU DHABI:The UAE continues to adopt a forward-looking vision to enhance the regulatory and legislative frameworks governing family businesses in the country. This vision aims to foster sustainable growth, ensure long-term viability, and strengthen the sector's contribution to national economic competitiveness both regionally and globally. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism played a key role in issuing the world's first comprehensive and pioneering legislation dedicated to family businesses: Federal Decree by Law No. (37) of 2022 concerning the Family Businesses. The law aims to ensure business continuity through legal mechanisms and structured procedures, support diversification of business activities, ease generational transition, and encourage expansion into advanced sectors, particularly the new economy. The Ministry has also issued four ministerial resolutions under which a unified registry for family companies was established. This registry currently includes more than 15 registered family firms. It also governs family business charters, share buy-back mechanisms, and the issuance of multiple classes of shares. In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasised that the UAE, guided by its wise leadership, has prioritised the creation of an advanced legislative environment to promote the growth and sustainability of family businesses over the coming decades. He highlighted that family businesses are a vital driver of national economic growth and a pillar of the UAE's long-term vision to build a future-ready economy. He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to advancing this vital sector through continued efforts and active collaboration with stakeholders. These efforts align with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision, aiming to increase the country's GDP to AED3 trillion by the next decade. Family businesses contribute approximately 60% of the UAE's GDP and employ 80% of the workforce. They also account for around 90% of private sector companies in the country. These businesses operate across a wide range of vital economic sectors, including the new economy, hospitality, retail, real estate, and construction. Family firms play a crucial role in diversifying the national economy. In Abu Dhabi alone, they represent 50% of the companies in the construction sector, 60% in financial services, 80% in wholesale and trade, and 70% in transportation. Globally, family businesses contribute around 70% of global GDP, making them responsible for more than two-thirds of global economic activity. They are also the largest employer worldwide, providing jobs to nearly 60% of the global workforce.


Al Etihad
14 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE's Calidus concludes successful participation at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul
27 July 2025 20:02 ISTANBUL (WAM)UAE-based Calidus Holding Group has concluded its successful participation in the 17th edition of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), held at the Istanbul Expo Centre from July 22 to 27, as part of the UAE National Pavilion, supervised by Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement (Tawazun).The Calidus stand witnessed strong engagement from senior officials, military leaders, and official delegations from around the world, who praised the advanced capabilities of the UAE's defence industry and commended Calidus products for their reliability, precision, and competitiveness on regional and global the exhibition, Calidus signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding, including an MoU with Türkiye's Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) to support supply chain collaboration and industrial localisation programmes, as well as an MoU with CTech to explore joint satellite communications and data link projects for military Director and CEO of Calidus Holding Group, Dr. Khalifa Murad Al Blooshi, stated that the participation significantly boosted the company's international presence and showcased the technological innovations of the UAE's defence sector, particularly in AI-driven and next-generation defence solutions, all designed and manufactured exhibited a range of advanced solutions, including the MATV armoured combat support vehicle integrated with the Al Hedaa missile launcher, six variants of the Al Hedaa system, models of the B-250 light attack and B-250T advanced trainer aircraft, a mock-up of the CLS military vehicle production facility, and cutting-edge electro-optical and infrared company also presented its locally manufactured military chassis, built for high-load and extreme-condition performance. The company emphasised that its IDEF 2025 participation aligns with its broader vision to strengthen the UAE's role as a key player in the global defence landscape through technology localisation, strategic autonomy, and regional and international market expansion.


Al Etihad
16 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Abdulla Al Hamed explores avenues of cooperation with global media, entertainment leaders in Osaka
27 July 2025 17:37 OSAKA (WAM)Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the NMO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Media Council, held a series of bilateral meetings in the Japanese city of Osaka with top global media and entertainment industry leaders. These meetings were part of efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships for the development of the film and creative content discussions focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration with international companies in areas such as film production, visual storytelling technologies, and the development of modern media Al Hamed emphasised that the current wave of technological transformation compels media institutions to be proactive in adopting artificial intelligence tools and data added, 'Our vision in the United Arab Emirates is centred on building a flexible and innovative media ecosystem that can anticipate audience needs and produce content that reflects our national ambitions and deep-rooted identity.'He noted that these meetings represent a new step in the UAE's media strategy, which aims to open up to international expertise and form impactful alliances that enhance the country's presence on the global media map. He also highlighted that the meetings served as an opportunity to introduce international partners to the upcoming 'BRIDGE' Summit in Abu Dhabi this December, which seeks to promote global partnerships and expand dialogue around the future of global Al Hamed met with Courtney LeMarco, Chairman of the Political Action Committee for the Entertainment Industry in Washington State, and Founder and CEO of LeMarco Global, a firm specialising in brand management and media content development in collaboration with major global corporations such as Amazon and Disney. He is also the executive producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary series 'Hoarders,' and a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington. He also met with Taiki Sakurai, CEO of Salamander Pictures Co., Ltd., a company known for its innovative approach to filmmaking that combines traditional cinematic techniques with the latest technologies and high-quality visual production.