A gathering of senior officials and decision-makers from government, regulatory, investment, and financial services sectors in Dubai at the inaugural “Daman Digital Asset Leadership Forum.” Image attached to the press release.
Leading officials and decision-makers from government, regulatory bodies, and financial sectors convened in Dubai for the inaugural “Daman Digital Asset Leadership Forum” to deliberate on the future of capital markets and digital assets in the UAE. The event, organised by Daman Virtual Assets in collaboration with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, took place at the Waldorf Astoria in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Exploring the Future of Capital Markets
The forum brought together key stakeholders to discuss the priorities shaping the future of Dubai’s capital markets, aligned with Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and recognised the growing role of digital assets within the financial sector.
Shehab Gargash, the Founder and Chairman of Daman Securities and Daman Investment, remarked on Dubai’s successful establishment of a robust foundation that positions it as an advanced financial hub closely linked to global markets. “The next step involves expanding and deepening the capital markets, increasing international participation, and ensuring that innovation translates into sustainable long-term growth,” he said.
A Platform for Dialogue
With the increasing presence of digital assets in the financial scene, the forum provided a space for dialogue among institutions responsible for market development and regulation, and those actively contributing to its growth.
Ahmed Khodr Khan, CEO of Daman Investment and Chairman of Daman Virtual Assets, emphasised the importance of gathering diverse opinions from governmental and regulatory entities under one collaborative platform. “This is vital for addressing challenges and achieving tangible progress, which Daman Virtual Assets aims to foster by intensifying communication among various ecosystem components,” he explained.
Prioritising Investment Opportunities
The initial session of the forum, titled “Dubai’s Aspirations for a Digital Economy: The Role of Capital Markets,” focused on the contribution of capital markets towards achieving Dubai’s economic goals. As the emirate seeks to attract more international investments, the session highlighted strategies to bolster Dubai’s position among the top global financial centres.
Participants included Abdullah Al Qaoud, Director at Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy; Dr. Marwan Al Zarooni, CEO of Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Economy and Tourism; Dr. Aisha bin Lutah, Assistant Vice President for Licensing and Supervision at the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority; and Ahmed Waheed, CEO of Daman Securities and Board Member of Daman Virtual Assets. They discussed essential next steps for further developing Dubai’s capital markets, starting from expanding investment opportunities to aligning regulatory frameworks with rapid technological advancements reshaping financial markets.
Exploring Tokenisation’s Future
Following discussions on broader capital market aspirations, the second session focused on the practical implications of tokenisation within the market. This session featured panelists such as Bushra Darwaza, CEO of Galaxy Digital for MENA; Mark Ing, Head of Digital Assets at Zand; Mariam Kawan, CEO for the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific at Confirmo; and Ahmed Ismail, Co-founder and Board Member of Daman Virtual Assets. They examined how tokenisation can open new opportunities for access to and investment in traditional assets.
The discussions explored several asset classes, including sukuks, investment funds, and global stocks, addressing requirements essential for transitioning tokenised assets from nascent stages to broader scopes, establishing a firmer foothold within financial markets. The conversation also touched on Dubai’s position within the evolving global tokenisation landscape and the factors that could distinguish its market as institutional adoption expands.
Daman Virtual Assets’ Strategic Initiatives
The forum was held at a pivotal time when Daman Virtual Assets, the institutional arm specialised in virtual assets under Daman Securities, is enhancing its presence in Dubai’s licensed virtual asset market, having entered the sector earlier this year. During the forum, participants had the chance to learn more about “Daman Crypto,” the primary platform for trading digital assets, through a dedicated presentation and demonstration.
Launched in May 2026, “Daman Crypto” is tailored to serve institutions, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, companies, and Web 3.0 businesses. It combines deep liquidity with optimal trade execution and facilitates settlement in UAE dirhams, offering direct connections to banking networks in the UAE.
Daman Virtual Assets holds a “Brokerage Services” licence from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and leverages over 27 years of experience in the financial service sector to provide institutions, firms, and high-net-worth individuals with organised access to digital assets.
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