UAE Poised to Become East-West Capital Hub Within Five Years, SIF Hears

Speakers at the ninth Sharjah Investment Forum stated that the UAE is positioned to become the primary crossing point for global capital flows between East and West within five years. Industry leaders attributed this trajectory to deliberate regulatory frameworks, dedicated oversight bodies like VARA, and rising investor emphasis on asset custody and trust.

Published October 15, 2026 Source: Big News Network.com Analysis

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Issuing authority: Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority
Jurisdiction: United Arab Emirates
Official source: news.google.com

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The United Arab Emirates is on course to become the primary crossing point for capital moving between the East and the West within the next five years, according to speakers on the opening day of the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF) 2026. Organized by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Investment, the two-day forum was convened under the theme 'Building Adaptive Economies'.

Speaking at a panel titled 'Capital Without Borders: Where Smart Money Is Moving Next', Saqr Ereiqat, Secretary General of the Dubai Digital Asset Association, stated that the country's position was developed deliberately. He noted that the UAE was among the earliest governments to release a national blockchain strategy, has grown into one of the largest state holders of digital assets, and established specialized regulatory bodies such as Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Ereiqat added that clear rules have attracted major global platforms, including Crypto.com, while allowing the UAE to compete with mature markets such as the UK in talent density.

Panellists, including Amer Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Vertix Holdings, and Jigar Sagar, Founder of Triliv Holdings Limited, emphasized that capital allocation decisions are increasingly dictated by governance, independent custody, and regulatory clarity rather than yields alone. Al Ahbabi noted that Vertix Holdings spent two years evaluating digital asset companies before finalizing a partnership with a Spanish custody provider to safeguard investor assets independently.

Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, observed that institutional and private investors remain cautious and demand transparent regulation with minimal risk before transitioning capital into emerging digital channels. She noted that long-term funding continues to prioritize tangible stability as well as strategic sectors including healthcare, education, and food and water security.