Paul Boots
Head of Sector Development
Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
BIOGRAPHY
Paul Boots - Head of Sector Development, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
Paul Boots, Head of Sector Development at the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), brings with him a wealth of experience as a senior executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record in innovation, leadership, and market development. With a diverse background spanning financial services, strategy, and technology, Paul has been instrumental in shaping the Middle East’s peer-to-peer financing landscape, notably as the founding Group COO at Beehive, where he pioneered one of the region's first peer-to-peer lending platforms. His entrepreneurial expertise also extends to co-founding a boutique advisory firm that focuses on leadership development and strategy for large UAE-based companies, with a special focus on AI-driven technologies.
Before these ventures, Paul played a key role in the executive leadership team at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), where he was instrumental in establishing Dubai as a global hub for trade across multiple industries. During his tenure, he conceptualized and built DMCC’s commodity trade finance platform, which facilitated Islamic banking partnerships. More recently, Paul led the development of a large B2B marketplace on behalf of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, further showcasing his ability to build innovative platforms that drive economic growth.
A graduate of Babson College, Paul’s passion for leadership, entrepreneurship, and building high-performing teams is central to his approach. His appointment at VARA aligns with Dubai’s strategic goals under the D33 agenda, as Paul’s leadership in sector development will play a critical role in positioning the Emirate as a global leader in the virtual assets space. His unique blend of strategic insight and operational expertise are pivotal as VARA continues to shape the future of virtual asset regulation and innovation.
Paul Boots - Head of Sector Development, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
Paul Boots, Head of Sector Development at the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), brings with him a wealth of experience as a senior executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record in innovation, leadership, and market development. With a diverse background spanning financial services, strategy, and technology, Paul has been instrumental in shaping the Middle East’s peer-to-peer financing landscape, notably as the founding Group COO at Beehive, where he pioneered one of the region's first peer-to-peer lending platforms. His entrepreneurial expertise also extends to co-founding a boutique advisory firm that focuses on leadership development and strategy for large UAE-based companies, with a special focus on AI-driven technologies.
Before these ventures, Paul played a key role in the executive leadership team at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), where he was instrumental in establishing Dubai as a global hub for trade across multiple industries. During his tenure, he conceptualized and built DMCC’s commodity trade finance platform, which facilitated Islamic banking partnerships. More recently, Paul led the development of a large B2B marketplace on behalf of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, further showcasing his ability to build innovative platforms that drive economic growth.
A graduate of Babson College, Paul’s passion for leadership, entrepreneurship, and building high-performing teams is central to his approach. His appointment at VARA aligns with Dubai’s strategic goals under the D33 agenda, as Paul’s leadership in sector development will play a critical role in positioning the Emirate as a global leader in the virtual assets space. His unique blend of strategic insight and operational expertise are pivotal as VARA continues to shape the future of virtual asset regulation and innovation.