How Dubai's Museum of the Future's 3D-printed building became a hub for blockchain technology in the Middle East

Rage Review : Dubai's first office building built with 3D technology is the headquarters of the Dubai Museum of the Future. The Global Blockchain Committee (GBC) is a team of 40 members that aims to study blockchain and digital currency. GBC has released seven proof-of-concept mechanisms in just a few months, which has attracted the attention of local media, and hopes to work hard to launch the world's first proof-of-concept mechanism from sandbox to reality. Blockchain and GBC can make the Arab Emirates a global center for transforming the future, and regulators will encourage innovation in major free zones as long as it complies with the requirements of overall federal regulations. GBC includes both those who create demand and those who meet demand. This unique ability can attract participants with great influence to join.

Translation: Nicole

The unconventional design and bright white exterior of the building catches the eye of passersby. The 3D printed building is the office headquarters of Dubai's Museum of the Future. A series of neat folded business cards tell a deeper story.

In the government-backed incubator, a variety of players recently gathered for a meeting of Dubai's Global Blockchain Council (GBC), a 40-member group that studies blockchain and digital currencies. Attendees included not only members of the IT team, but also executives from technology giants IBM and Ericsson, as well as heads of regional startups, trade departments, free economic zones and commodity exchanges.

Conference focus: In preparation for the undisclosed 2016 annual conference, a blockchain conference sponsored by GBC a few days ago, the conference focused on one topic - whether Dubai is getting the message across to the wider international business community interested in blockchain technology.

Although the meeting was not open to the public, Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation, shared his insights at the event, analyzing why GBC is using blockchain technology to promote economic growth in Dubai.

Saif Al Aleeli

Al Aleeli told CoinDesk:

“Blockchain covers everything from public records to contracts to economic transactions. Our philosophy is, ‘We’re interested, we’re serious, and we want to make this a reality today.’”

According to Al Aleeli, people believe that the local government can improve services and business for consumers through blockchain technology, and GBC will play a better role in this environment.

He said:

“Blockchain and GBC are an essential component in making the UAE (United Arab Emirates) a global hub for transforming the future.”

Al Aleeli’s Museum of the Future, part government initiative, part physical destination and part think tank was a booster for the event, creating the GBC as well as helping the Dubai Government Backs Expansive Blockchain Research Effort control the conference agenda.

In addition to organizing conferences, the Museum of the Future also plays an important role in connecting interested parties to promote further developments.

In just a few months, GBC has announced seven proofs of concepts (PoCs) based on blockchain systems, ranging from promoting local tourism to protecting residents’ medical records.

Topics of conversation included recommendations that the GBC should heed, given its wider impact in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, progress on proof-of-concept initiatives and how these projects could become world-firsts, according to attendees.

Future Challenges

After several months of hard work, GBC began to look at how to advance the project work, which would also resonate with the international community.

While the work in progress has received attention from local media, GBC members said that in order to have a real impact, the GBC will work hard to advance the project and become the first organization in the world to achieve a real impact from the sandbox application.

Al Aleeli explained how the GBC encourages innovation in the current regulatory context, which means working in areas where the GBC is confident it can advance its work.

He said:

“Regulators will encourage innovation in major free zones as long as it complies with overall federal regulations.”

As it nears completion, GBC will begin the process of educating a wider audience of regulators and lawmakers about its project, as it has done elsewhere in the world.

As for how long the process will take, despite government support, Al Aleeli believes that each emirate in the UAE has its own rules and regulations, but all financial activities are controlled by the UAE Central Bank.

In this context, the GBC can be seen as a sandbox environment for the workshop initiative so that blockchain technology can be considered more broadly by key stakeholders in the UAE corporate sector.

Growing membership

With rapid development, new challenges also arise.

GBC is attracting more new members, including Dubai Trade, Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange and, most recently, the Dubai Department of Economic Development. Local and international startups Kraken, BitOasis, Umbrellab and Loyyal have also joined.

Al Aleeli believes this is positive as GBC currently attracts many stakeholders from the UAE.

Al Aleeli said:

“GBC is special because it includes both those who create demand and those who meet it, a unique ability to attract high-impact participants.”

However, GBC needs to take steps to rethink how to onboard new staff and the necessary expertise.

Al Aleeli said that if GBC is to continue to grow, it will need to include members or skills that represent industries that are currently being neglected.

In particular, professional technical knowledge is required, and this area is not a special challenge for GBC.

Al Aleeli concluded:

“We may be interested in bringing in more blockchain development and solution companies in the near future, but GBC covers almost everything.”