Feb 17, 2023
Dubai Embraces Crypto, Integrating Web3 and NFTs

The city of Dubai has been very welcoming to the crypto space, providing much-needed regulatory clarity to help the industry thrive. While this has attracted native Web3 and crypto businesses to the emirate, non-crypto businesses have also started integrating crypto technologies into their operations, such as cryptocurrencies, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and even the metaverse.
Cointelegraph recently explored Dubai to see how crypto and Web3 technologies are being used in some businesses in the emirate.
Groceries with Crypto
Day to Day, one of Dubai’s most popular and affordable grocery chains, announced last year that they started accepting crypto payments. On Aug. 8, the local media outlet, Khaleej Times, reported that the hypermarket has started to accept crypto payments in their online store and several branches throughout Dubai.
Cointelegraph visited the Al Quoz branch and attempted to use crypto to buy groceries. Despite the advertisements of accepting crypto displayed all over the store, the staff said in-store crypto purchases are unavailable and directed Cointelegraph to use the online store instead.
Screenshot of the checkout system in Day To Day’s online store. Source: Day to Day
Crypto users can still shop using crypto on the online store. The branch accepts Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Tether (USDT) and various other coins as payment for online orders.
Cointelegraph also reached out to the official Day To Day hypermarket team to get their comments but did not get a response.
Luxury cars in the Real and Metaverse
Dubai appeals to many who want a taste of luxury, and one of the most popular ways to experience luxury is to drive expensive cars. Cointelegraph spoke with a luxury car club based in Dubai that found a way to utilize NFTs and various Web3 technologies in their business.
Some of Elchai Group’s luxury cars. Photo by: Joanna Alhambra
A luxury project called Elchai Group is bringing luxury cars to the decentralized community through NFTs. Maria Xenofontos, Elchai Group’s chief marketing officer, told Cointelegraph that NFT holders who are also automatically members of their car club would be able to rent physical exotic cars from Elchai’s car collection. Xenofontos also explained that the team is bringing a luxury car club to the metaverse and gave Cointelegraph a sneak peek at their metaverse project that replicated one of Dubai’s most popular attractions, the Dubai Eye.
Cointelegraph’s Ezra Reguerra with the Elchai Group’s team members.
When asked about NFTs, the executive said that the space needs more exploration at the moment. “NFT as a form of ownership is something to explore more, and I am sure we will see their actual use case more in the coming years,” she said.
Flavio Elia, the founder and CEO of Elchai Group, told Cointelegraph the inspiration behind the project. “It’s simple, really. After 20 years in the luxury car trading business, I wanted to pursue my dream of forming a car club. It’s my love for cars and the endless possibilities in the metaverse that has driven me to pursue this project,” he said.
Crypto Payment Integrations Don’t Last
Apart from Day To Day, other businesses within Dubai have also announced various crypto payment integrations in the last year but failed to gain traction. On March 3, 2022, the Indian restaurant, The Bhukkad Cafe, announced that it accepted BTC payments. Almost a year later, Cointelegraph visited the store to check if they still accepted Bitcoin. According to the store clerks, they only accept cash or card.
On Feb. 16, 2022, the media outlet, Time Out Dubai, reported on a new online restaurant called Doge Burger, taking inspiration from dog-themed tokens like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB). But when Cointelegraph tried to order one of the burgers, the order did not arrive. Exactly one year later, the project’s website cannot be accessed anymore.
Apart from food businesses, a popular school in Dubai also dipped its toes into crypto payments but backtracked almost immediately. On Feb. 9, Binance announced a partnership with the Canadian University Dubai to enable crypto payments within the university. However, less than a day after the announcement, the university backtracked on accepting crypto, citing technical roadblocks.
Related: How the UAE became the Middle East’s digital asset champion
Despite some projects struggling with crypto integrations, Dubai’s crypto industry is still alive. In a recent Cointelegraph interview, Crypto Oasis co-founder Saqr Ereiqat said that many talents from around the world are coming into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to work in the crypto space.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented migration of talent and capital from around the world into the UAE,” he said. In addition, the executive highlighted that at the moment, more than 8,300 professionals are working in the space in the Crypto Oasis alone.
The fast-paced and ever-evolving crypto and Web3 space has been steadily gaining traction in the city of Dubai. Businesses in the emirate have been exploring ways to incorporate crypto and NFTs into their operations, from grocery stores to luxury car clubs.
Despite some projects struggling with crypto payment integrations, the crypto industry in Dubai is still alive and well, with more professionals and capital coming in from around the world. As more businesses explore the potential of crypto and NFTs, the opportunities to promote and sell NFTs will continue to grow. With the right NFT marketing strategy, businesses can tap into the power of NFTs and the Web3 space to promote their products and services.
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