COTI has joined the newly launched Saudi Arabia AI and Blockchain Centre (SAAIBC) as a founding member, the company announced April 30, during the Real-World Asset (RWA) Summit in Dubai. Notably, the initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and broader Africa.
The center, launched at a roundtable event held at the Burj Al Arab, will bring together policymakers, investors, and infrastructure providers to advance regulatory frameworks and support the development of tokenized economies. For context, COTI’s involvement signals its continued focus on compliant privacy solutions and RWA integration.
COTI to Support Blockchain Privacy and RWA Integration
COTI will contribute its expertise in privacy-preserving blockchain infrastructure to the new center’s mission. The company specializes in compliant confidentiality, aiming to remove institutional barriers to blockchain adoption through technology that supports auditability and regulatory compliance.
According to Shahaf Bar-Geffen, CEO of COTI:
By bringing together infrastructure providers, including COTI, with investors, government officials, and businesses, we will be able to trial meaningful projects with input from all relevant stakeholders – giving the greatest possible chance of success”.
COTI’s privacy technology is positioned to support the growth of RWAs on-chain, which include tokenized commodities, lending instruments, and infrastructure investments. These tokenized assets are increasingly viewed as a bridge between Tradfi and decentralized ecosystems.
SAAIBC Launches Amid Saudi Arabia’s Expanding AI Strategy
The Saudi Arabia AI and Blockchain Centre forms part of the country’s broader Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global hub for technological innovation. Major government initiatives include the Public Investment Fund’s $40 billion AI-focused fund and Project Transcendence, a $100 billion initiative targeting AI infrastructure, startups, and data centers.
The Real-World Asset Summit roundtable, where SAAIBC was introduced, gathered 40 senior stakeholders from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Sierra Leone, France, and the United Kingdom. Attendees also included investors collectively managing nearly $500 billion in assets.
Discussions focused on how to align regulatory policy with rapid technological advancement in the region. Key topics included tokenization challenges, building trust between TradFi and DeFi, and use cases for RWAs in national development projects.
As SAAIBC begins its work, COTI is expected to play an active role in designing blockchain policy and infrastructure supporting institutional-grade use cases across MENA and Africa. The center is positioned to serve as a testing ground for initiatives combining AI and blockchain, with real-world applications and multilateral support.
