- Unchained Summit returns to Dubai on 1–2 May 2026 at W Dubai – The Palm
- First wave of speakers confirmed from Web 3.0, finance, technology, and investment
- Event expected to welcome more than 1,500 senior industry participants
- Summit focuses on deal flow, regulation, and real-world adoption
Unchained Summit has confirmed that its Dubai edition will take place on 1st and 2nd May 2026 at W Dubai – The Palm. The organisers have also released the first round of confirmed speakers, reinforcing the event’s position as a leading platform for Web 3.0 deal-making and senior-level networking.
Organised by Aeternum, Unchained Summit will return to Dubai with a programme that reflects the increasing maturity of the global Web 3.0 sector. Supported by Official Media Partner Coin Edition, the event is expected to attract more than 1,500 builders, investors, developers, and policymakers. The initial speaker announcements highlight a focus on real adoption, regulation, and institutional participation.
The United Arab Emirates has moved beyond positioning itself as a digital asset hub and is now recognised as an active market for Web 3.0 and digital assets. With established regulatory frameworks and growing involvement from global banks, enterprises, and technology firms, the UAE has become a place where large-scale deployment and adoption are taking place.
Set against this backdrop, the Dubai edition of Unchained Summit aims to provide a structured and curated environment suited to a more developed digital asset economy. While the number of industry events in the region continues to grow, few are designed to meet the needs of institutional investors, enterprise teams, founders, and digital asset operators. Unchained Summit positions itself as a forum where these groups can engage with clear intent and defined outcomes.
The 2026 Dubai event will feature more than 80 speakers over two days, representing traditional finance, enterprise technology, digital infrastructure, venture capital, and fast-growing startups. Additional speakers will be announced in stages.
The first confirmed speakers include:
- Eowyn Chen, CEO, Trust Wallet, UAE
- David Norris, CFO & CSO, NEAR Foundation, UAE
- Andrew Vranjes, Chief Revenue Officer, Blockdaemon, UAE
- Abdulla Al Dhaheri, CEO, The Blockchain Center, Abu Dhabi
- Anthony Bassili, President, Coinbase Asset Management
- Richard Wang, Partner, Draper Dragon, China
- Akshay Dalal, Head of Regional Risk & Compliance, Google, UAE
- Jack Platts, Co-Founder, Hypersphere Ventures, USA
- Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Animoca Brands
- Nic Puckrin, Co-Founder and CEO, Coin Bureau, Dubai
- Niraj Pant, Co-Founder, Ritual, USA
Beyond the speaker programme, the Summit is designed around structured engagement. The agenda includes investor–founder meetings, curated one-to-one introductions, and dedicated spaces for enterprise and infrastructure discussions. The focus is on enabling partnerships, collaboration, and deployment rather than informal networking alone.
Akshay Dalal from Google, who will be speaking at the event, said, “Web 3.0 represents a pivotal shift in how we interact with data, identity, and trust. As regulatory frameworks begin to catch up, I believe the convergence of Web 3.0 and AI can unlock transformative potential, if we build it with responsibility, resilience, and real-world value in mind. I’m excited to bring a risk and compliance lens to the Unchained Summit in Dubai, helping bridge innovation with integrity.”
Reflecting on the previous edition, Yat Siu of Animoca Brands said: “Events like Unchained Summit matter because they help people understand why the industry exists in the first place.” He noted that the talks, panels, and connections serve a wider purpose in a sector still early in global adoption. He added, “Unchained Summit plays a key role in bringing the community closer and creating the connections that push the industry forward.”
Nic Puckrin, CEO of Coin Bureau, added: “Happy to be speaking at Unchained Summit in Dubai and to share a clear view on where the crypto markets may be heading next. The industry is moving through a defining period, and informed analysis matters more than ever.”
Sharath Kumar, Founder and CEO of Aeternum, said: “Following the success of our first edition, Unchained Summit returns at a time when the UAE has become a place where globally significant developments can be executed, not just discussed. The Summit is built to help companies, investors, and enterprises engage with intent, close meaningful partnerships, and drive real outcomes”.
Tickets and further information are available at unchainedsummit.com/dubai.
