Crypto Moves – DAMAC completes $50m in crypto deals; Crypto.com to operate in Dubai

The UAE government and Crypto.com are also partnering through Investopia to advance global financial innovation both domestically and internationally.
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Updated 05 June 2022
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Crypto Moves – DAMAC completes $50m in crypto deals; Crypto.com to operate in Dubai

RIYADH: Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency internationally, traded higher on Sunday, rising by 0.47 percent to $29,785.28 as of 9:00 a.m. Riyadh time.

Ethereum, the second most traded cryptocurrency, was priced at $1,794.73 up by 1.68 percent, according to data from Coindesk.

DAMAC completes $50m in crypto deals

A Dubai-based real estate developer, DAMAC Properties, has completed cryptocurrency deals worth SAR1.8 billion ($50 million) since the beginning of the year, according to its Chief Operating Officer, Ali Sajwani.
Damac properties is having a hard time convincing older generations to embrace cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens, and the metaverse, Sajwani said, according to Bitcoin.com
In accepting either Bitcoin or Ethereum as payment, Sajwani noted that DAMAC has demonstrated its willingness to go the extra mile to “benefit from the most advanced technology solutions,” the article said.

VC Cypher Capital invests in blockchain company Iomob
The blockchain-focused investment firm Cypher Capital, based in Dubai, invested in Iomob on June 3, according to a statement.
The blockchain company, which developed the world’s first mobility marketplace network and token, will use the investment to improve its blockchain architecture.
Cypher Capital’s support, according to Iomob CEO Boyd Cohen, helps fuel the development of new, decentralized, interoperable global mobility networks, which will be the cornerstone of the company’s new ‘internet of mobility’ philosophy, which is beginning to reshape how the company views global transportation.
Since its incorporation in 2018 by three Ph.D. co-founders based in Barcelona, Spain, Iomob’s has deployed trials with major enterprise customers in New Zealand, Spain, and Scandinavia, and is now deploying commercially in the UK, US, and Portugal.
According to the statement, Iomob delivers multimodal, shared mobility access to millions of travelers this year with several more deployments planned.
Additionally, A100x and Creas have co-invested in the blockchain company with True Global Ventures.
With Iomob’s application and world-class “Journey Planner,” users can access 7,000 taxi fleets, and micro mobility in more than 270 cities, along with thousands of parking spaces and over 480 public transit feeds.
 

Crypto.com receives provisional approval to open a crypto exchange in Dubai
Crypto.com, the world’s fastest growing cryptocurrency platform, is in the process of offering digital asset services in Dubai, following in the footsteps of Binance, FTX, and Bybit
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has provisionally approved Crypto.com’s Virtual Asset MVP License, allowing the company to offer a full range of crypto exchange products and services, according to a statement.
Director General of Dubai World Trade Center Authority that houses VARA, Helal Saeed Almarri, said in a statement: “As a licensed participant, Crypto.com will be one of the anchors partnering with VARA in the development of a global future focused regulatory framework.”
Crypto.com submitted required documentation detailing its assurances of compliance checks in return for the provisional license. After VARA issues its final Virtual Asset MVP license, the company will offer additional products and services to institutional investors and consumers, the statement said.
Crypto.com announced plans to open a regional hub in Dubai in March. The UAE government and Crypto.com are also partnering through Investopia to advance global financial innovation both domestically and internationally.


Education spending surges 251% as students return from autumn break: SAMA

Updated 12 December 2025
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Education spending surges 251% as students return from autumn break: SAMA

RIYADH: Education spending in Saudi Arabia surged 251.3 percent in the week ending Dec. 6, reflecting the sharp uptick in purchases as students returned from the autumn break.

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, expenditure in the sector reached SR218.73 million ($58.2 million), with the number of transactions increasing by 61 percent to 233,000.

Despite this surge, overall point-of-sale spending fell 4.3 percent to SR14.45 billion, while the number of transactions dipped 1.7 percent to 236.18 million week on week.

The week saw mixed changes between the sectors. Spending on freight transport, postal and courier services saw the second-biggest uptick at 33.3 percent to SR60.93 million, followed by medical services, which saw an 8.1 percent increase to SR505.35 million.

Expenditure on apparel and clothing saw a decrease of 16.3 percent, followed by a 2 percent reduction in spending on telecommunication.

Jewelry outlays witnessed an 8.1 percent decline to reach SR325.90 million. Data revealed decreases across many other sectors, led by hotels, which saw the largest dip at 24.5 percent to reach SR335.98 million. 

Spending on car rentals in the Kingdom fell by 12.6 percent, while airlines saw a 3.7 percent increase to SR46.28 million.

Expenditure on food and beverages saw a 1.7 percent increase to SR2.35 billion, claiming the largest share of the POS. Restaurants and cafes retained the second position despite a 12.6 percent dip to SR1.66 billion.

Saudi Arabia’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 3.9 percent dip to SR4.89 billion, down from SR5.08 billion the previous week.

The number of transactions in the capital settled at 74.16 million, down 1.4 percent week on week.

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased by 5.9 percent to SR1.91 billion, while Dammam reported a 0.8 percent surge to SR713.71 million.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia. 

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives. 

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the nation’s broader digital economy.