Animoca Brands Opens Dubai Office for Middle East Expansion

Animoca Brands has officially expanded its operations into the Middle East, setting up a regional base in Dubai to strengthen its involvement in the fast-evolving Web3 ecosystem. This move reflects the growing interest in blockchain and decentralized technologies across the region.

Good to know

• Animoca Brands has opened a new regional base in Dubai to support Web3 growth.
• Omar Elassar will lead operations and global strategic partnerships from the UAE.
• The new office will focus on collaboration, innovation, and long-term expansion across the region.

As part of the expansion, the company has appointed Omar Elassar as managing director for the Middle East and head of global strategic partnerships. He will guide Animoca Brands across strategic initiatives in the region and lead partnership efforts on a global scale.

The new Dubai office will act as a central hub for engaging with both regional and international partners. It will focus on developing new collaborations, driving innovation, and scaling operations to support Web3 infrastructure and adoption across the Middle East.

Omar brings close to a decade of experience in the Web3 sector, having worked with high-profile platforms like Ripple and Polkadot through Parity Technologies. His background includes strategic roles in gaming, decentralized networks, real-world-asset tokenization, and digital payments. Prior to entering the blockchain space, he held senior roles in strategy and financial advisory at Deloitte, Oliver Wyman, and Morgan Stanley. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Computer Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo.

Evan Auyang, group president of Animoca Brands, highlighted Omar’s value to the team:

“Omar’s deep expertise in Web3 makes him an exceptional addition to Animoca Brands. His leadership will be a key driver in driving Animoca Brands’ strategic growth in the Middle East and beyond.”

Omar Elassar also shared his thoughts on the expansion:

“We are excited to establish our first office in the Middle East, one of the world’s most connected innovation hubs, to leverage the region’s vibrant landscape and support the evolving needs of the Web3 industry locally and globally. Joining Animoca Brands at this phase in its journey presents a unique opportunity to work with visionary builders and contribute to the wider integration of blockchain technology in a market that is poised for significant growth.”