Paul Dawalibi
CEO
Innovation City
Paul Dawalibi is a technology entrepreneur, investor, unicorn founder, futurist and gamer, with over 25 years of venture capital and startup experience. He is currently the CEO of Innovation City, the world’s first free zone fully powered by artificial intelligence (AI) in the UAE, where he is building the Silicon Valley of the Middle East in Ras Al Khaimah. Previously, he was CEO of Holodeck - the leading global media and technology company focused on gaming, esports and web3. His ability to communicate the business opportunity around innovation has made him the largest industry influencer and expert in the MENA region. Paul is the host and creator of Game Changers - a groundbreaking business show on CNBC Arabia reaching 50M homes in the Middle East. He is a frequently requested speaker at tech, startup, web3, and gaming conferences all around the world. He consults family offices, governments, investors, and global companies on startups and building innovation ecosystems. Paul is also the creator of the world's 1st esports NFT and founder of the 2020 fastest growing company in Canada. He believes that the future is fun™.
On TV and in media:
• My content is consumed daily and trusted by millions in 66 countries around the world, and am widely recognized as the thought leader in the region for startups, tech and gaming.
• Host & Creator of “Game Changers” – the most exciting weekly show on CNBC Arabia focused on gaming, esports and the metaverse, reaching 50M homes in the MENA region.
• Host & Creator of the world-famous Business of Esports podcast - the largest esports and gaming industry outlet and the only authority on the business side of the gaming/esports industry.
Live and in person:
• Chairman of the 1st ever Dubai Esports Festival (now called GameExpo)
• Invited to speak at the biggest innovation and technology conferences in the world - Next World Forum (KSA), PAX East, Esports Business Summit, World Metaverse Forum, GITEX, SALT, Crypto Bahamas, DIFCFintech Week, World Corporate Summit, Step, LEAP, TMRW, World AI Show, Future Blockchain Summit, RetailME Icons, Fast Company: World Changing Ideas, Dubai Future Forum, Ignite, World Blockchain Summit, Web Summit, AIM Congress, MIT NextTech Summit, etc…
• Retained as a startup, web3, AI, gaming, and esports expert by
companies, family offices, governments, and investors around the world.
• Professor of esports business at Saint Peter's University In books
• Author of Metaverse Dream – landmark metaverse book published by Assouline.
• Wrote the foreword for the best-selling esports business book of all time (The Book of Esports)
• As a VC, I've been talking about gaming, esports and the metaverse since 2011. At work (recent)
• Building the Silicon Valley of the Middle East and a global hub for innovation in Ras Al Khaimah
• Architect of a world-class gaming investment program for Abu Dhabi (DCT / ADGaming)
• Member of the Dubai Program for Gaming Working Group, charting the direction and future of the gaming industry in Dubai
• Advisor to Dubai Police on gaming and esports strategies
• Consulted as a subject matter expert on the concept & business model for Qiddiya (KSA gaming district)
• Consulted with Dubai Health Authority on the metaverse and gamification of
healthcare and was recognized by the Director General of DHA
• Developed the gaming content strategy for GITEX / Future Blockchain Summit
• Expert on building early stage tech, gaming and venture ecosystems
On TV and in media:
• My content is consumed daily and trusted by millions in 66 countries around the world, and am widely recognized as the thought leader in the region for startups, tech and gaming.
• Host & Creator of “Game Changers” – the most exciting weekly show on CNBC Arabia focused on gaming, esports and the metaverse, reaching 50M homes in the MENA region.
• Host & Creator of the world-famous Business of Esports podcast - the largest esports and gaming industry outlet and the only authority on the business side of the gaming/esports industry.
Live and in person:
• Chairman of the 1st ever Dubai Esports Festival (now called GameExpo)
• Invited to speak at the biggest innovation and technology conferences in the world - Next World Forum (KSA), PAX East, Esports Business Summit, World Metaverse Forum, GITEX, SALT, Crypto Bahamas, DIFCFintech Week, World Corporate Summit, Step, LEAP, TMRW, World AI Show, Future Blockchain Summit, RetailME Icons, Fast Company: World Changing Ideas, Dubai Future Forum, Ignite, World Blockchain Summit, Web Summit, AIM Congress, MIT NextTech Summit, etc…
• Retained as a startup, web3, AI, gaming, and esports expert by
companies, family offices, governments, and investors around the world.
• Professor of esports business at Saint Peter's University In books
• Author of Metaverse Dream – landmark metaverse book published by Assouline.
• Wrote the foreword for the best-selling esports business book of all time (The Book of Esports)
• As a VC, I've been talking about gaming, esports and the metaverse since 2011. At work (recent)
• Building the Silicon Valley of the Middle East and a global hub for innovation in Ras Al Khaimah
• Architect of a world-class gaming investment program for Abu Dhabi (DCT / ADGaming)
• Member of the Dubai Program for Gaming Working Group, charting the direction and future of the gaming industry in Dubai
• Advisor to Dubai Police on gaming and esports strategies
• Consulted as a subject matter expert on the concept & business model for Qiddiya (KSA gaming district)
• Consulted with Dubai Health Authority on the metaverse and gamification of
healthcare and was recognized by the Director General of DHA
• Developed the gaming content strategy for GITEX / Future Blockchain Summit
• Expert on building early stage tech, gaming and venture ecosystems