IBM, Consensys Named Dubai Blockchain Partners
Dubai’s government body for advancing technology has selected IBM and Consensys as key partners to help launch its hoped-for city-wide implementation of blockchain.
The announcement by Smart Dubai Office continues the Dubai Blockchain Strategy 2020 program that was launched last year. The goal is to make Dubai the first blockchain-powered government in the world while creating a blockchain industry that is envisioned as a global thought leader in the field.
Smart Dubai Office named IBM as its Blockchain Lead Strategic Partner and Consensys as Blockchain City Advisor.
“Today’s announcement marks an important step forward in our commitment to delivering Dubai’s Blockchain Strategy announced late last year by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai,” said a statement from Smart Dubai Office director general Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr.
“We are working towards our goal of making Dubai the first blockchain-powered government in the world by 2020. Collaborating with IBM and Consensys will help expedite this process, attaining Smart Dubai’s overall vision of making every-day experiences more safe, seamless, efficient and impactful for all residents and visitors of the city.”
Over the coming months, Smart Dubai will conduct workshops with key government, semi-government and private organizations in Dubai to identify and prioritize the services that can be most enhanced by the application of blockchain technology. These workshops will also educate Dubai’s public and private sector community on blockchain technology while highlighting its current and future potential. After these workshops, the public and private sectors can work collaboratively to roll out blockchain pilots throughout 2017, said Aisha.
As part of the effort, Smart Dubai plans to design and build a shared blockchain as a service BaaS) platform for its government entities use on pilots and projects.
