Leaders from the world’s top blockchain and gaming firms descended on Abu Dhabi this week for the co-located Global Blockchain Show 2025 and Global Games Show 2025, transforming the UAE capital into a nexus for digital innovation and high-stakes networking.
The dual events, held on December 10 and 11 at the state-of-the-art Space42 Arena, drew more than 5,000 attendees, 200 speakers and over 100 exhibitors, spotlighting the intersection of decentralized finance, artificial intelligence and immersive entertainment against the backdrop of the UAE’s burgeoning $1.5 billion gaming market.
Organized by VAP Group the shows marked a pivotal moment for Abu Dhabi as a global Web3 and esports epicenter. Parmar, whose firm has evolved from blockchain advisory to staging flagship conferences, hailed the gatherings as “an incredible success” in a statement, crediting the “visionary speakers, groundbreaking projects and engaged attendees” alongside unwavering support from partners and the Abu Dhabi government.
The program features a lineup of global blockchain and AI leaders discussing how the convergence of the two technologies is accelerating innovation across industries. A panel moderated by De Bacci Capital Co-Founder and CEO Anna L. De Bacci brings together Samantha Yap, founder of YAP Global; Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget; Bryan Benson, CEO of the Aurum Foundation; Clara Tsao, founding officer of the Filecoin Foundation; and Francesco Andreolí, director of developer relations at Consensys/MetaMask. The group will examine the rapid integration of AI into blockchain systems and the new opportunities emerging at global scale.
Sergej Kunz, co-founder of 1inch, is set to deliver a keynote on the evolution of decentralized finance, offering insights into shifting liquidity trends and the breakthroughs shaping the future of DeFi worldwide.
Another panel will address the rise of retail investors and their growing influence on cryptocurrency markets. Moderated by Efe Kelemci, macro analyst and co-host at The Moon Group, the discussion includes David Ticzon, chief degen at the Sui Foundation; crypto educator and entrepreneur Davinci Jeremie; Carl Runefelt, founder of The Moon Group; and Herbert Sim, known as “The Bitcoin Man” and COO of Websea.com. The session will explore how Bitcoin, altcoins and memecoins are driving the next major market cycle.
Event organizers also announced several high-profile guests and speakers joining the Global Blockchain Show 2025. Denitza Valjavec, co-founder and GCC CEO of Propy Inc., will share insights on proptech innovation and the company’s efforts to reshape real estate transactions through blockchain. Ahad Bhai, founder and CEO of Sixr Cricket, will bring perspectives from his work across media, technology and emerging digital ecosystems.
Yasmina Boubnider Kazitani, president of the Blockchain Game Alliance, is scheduled to speak on the growing intersection of gaming and Web3. Additional speakers include Chetan Varma, manager at EPOW.io, and Felix Tiong, head of marketing at CoinUp.io, both of whom will discuss advancements in blockchain adoption and digital asset infrastructure.
The events aligned with the emirate’s aggressive push into tech, including initiatives like AD Gaming and the tax-free ecosystem championed by the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
Attendees hailed from diverse corners of the globe, with 30% from the Middle East, 28% from Asia, 22% from Europe, 17% from the USA and 3% from Canada, reflecting the UAE’s magnetic pull for international talent. By company size, 34% represented firms with up to 1,000 employees, 13% midsize operations of 1,000 to 10,000 and another 13% from enterprises exceeding 10,000. Leadership dominated the crowd: 72% were C-level executives, directors, vice presidents or founders, joined by 10% heads and managers, and 10% senior data scientists and engineers. Sector breakdown showed 38% from enterprises and corporates, 26% from technology, 9% from startups, 8% from government and public entities, and 5% from investors and consultants.
The Blockchain Show served as a crucible for Web3 advancements, with panels dissecting real-world blockchain applications, AI integration, DeFi protocols and Web3 gaming mechanics. Draper Dragon’s Andy Tang, a venture capitalist who has seeded more than 15 unicorns in blockchain and AI, shared insights on funding the next wave of disruptors. 1inch Network co-founder Sergej Kunz unpacked efficient DeFi swaps, while Vodafone DAB, the telecom’s digital asset business unit, explored enterprise blockchain pilots. Other backers like Future Dynamics and Times of Blockchain amplified the platform’s reach, with 150 media outlets amplifying the buzz.
Complementing the crypto focus, the Games Show — co-hosted by Abu Dhabi Gaming and powered by Times of Games — electrified the arena with B2B fervor, uniting developers, publishers and esports pros under the banner “The Leading Voices in Gaming.” Highlights included keynotes on Unreal Engine 6’s horizon, AR glasses for spectator experiences and government-backed accelerators. Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu, a metaverse pioneer driving NFT and blockchain gaming adoption, joined Sébastien Borget of The Sandbox in fireside chats on player-owned economies. The event underscored Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem perks, from twofour54’s creative hubs to investment pipelines, positioning the emirate as a rival to Singapore and Dubai in interactive media.
As curtains fell, the shows yielded tangible outcomes: startup-investor matchups via AI-powered apps, protocol launches teased for 2026 and pledges for cross-sector collaborations amid the UAE’s Web3 surge. With Bitcoin MENA and Solana Breakpoint overlapping nearby, Abu Dhabi solidified its status as the Middle East’s crypto and gaming forge, where volatility meets vision in a tax-haven crucible primed for the decentralized decade ahead.
Vishal Parmar, founder and CEO of VAP Group, the event organizer, thanked participants, speakers, sponsors and the Abu Dhabi government for making the Global Blockchain Show and Global Games Show 2025 a resounding success in Abu Dhabi.
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