HODL unites Dubai and Riyadh for a landmark blockchain roadshow across the Middle East

HODL, the original web3 summit series, returns with a powerhouse double act in Dubai and Riyadh to fuel real deals, policy talks, and the next wave of web3 disruption.

Dubai, UAE – 24 July 2025 — HODL, the OG of web3 and crypto summits, is back to break more ground, this time with a back-to-back Middle East roadshow in Dubai (30–31 Oct) and Riyadh (3–4 Nov) that promises seven days of pure alpha, deal-making, and decentralized disruption.

After setting the bar in early 2025 with its record-breaking Dubai edition, HODL is crossing borders to supercharge collabs between builders, backers, regulators, and institutions. Think policy meets protocol. TradFi meets DeFi. And investors meet the next unicorns of web3.

Download the Dubai 2025 post-event report.

Dubai 2025 wasn’t just a vibe: It was a shift

• 3,000+ web3 founders, investors, execs and OGs
• 1,000+ real business connections made IRL
• 50+ sessions featuring giga-brain speakers
• 40+ countries in the mix
• 60+ media partners, 40+ sponsors, and 8m+ media impressions
• 180k+ social hits with 7k+ solid clicks
• 2,800+ articles + 2m+ social mentions

Dubai showed the world it’s not just crypto-friendly, it’s crypto-forward. Now Riyadh is stepping into the ring.

Missed the magic? Dubai brought the alpha, now watch how it went down.
Check out the official HODL Dubai Recap Video.

Why these cities? Why now?

Dubai: Web3’s global playground

• 1,400+ crypto and web3 companies already plugged in
• HQ of VARA — the world’s first digital asset regulator
• $1.5b+ poured into the space in 2024–25
• 30%+ crypto adoption among residents
• Big plays in Digital Dirham, asset tokenization and full blockchain integration by 2030

Riyadh: The next web3 power move

• 51% YoY growth in blockchain business licenses
• Powered by Vision 2030, SDAIA, and major policy reforms
• Enterprise DeFi pilots, tokenized real estate and smart governance POCs
• Top universities building the next gen of crypto-native talent

Dubai is the polished powerhouse. Riyadh is the next frontier. Together, they’re building the web3 bridge the world’s been waiting for.

From the community

“HODL was a turning point. Sharing my story on stage and being heard by investors was a milestone, both personally and professionally.” — Tim Popplewell, CEO, Scintilla

“It felt like the bull market IRL. The energy, the people — pure conviction everywhere.” — Luther Maday, Global Head of Payments

“What stands out at HODL is the caliber. You’re not pitching in a vacuum. You’re with leaders who actually move the needle.” — R. Vivekanand, President – BFSI Products & Platforms, TCS

What’s dropping in the dual-city edition?

• Closed-door policy talks with regional regulators (yes, real ones)
• Founder–investor matchmaking zones (ICO, IEO, STO, you name it)
• Live showcases across DeFi, RWAs, ESG, CBDCs, and more
• Cross-border alignment: shared standards, capital flow, and brainpower
• PR on blast with coverage from CNN, Khaleej Times, Entrepreneur ME, ZEX PR Wire, and more

TLDR: This ain’t just another summit

It’s where capital meets code. Where L2 builders talk tokenomics with ministries. Where web2 giants meet web3 rebels. It’s HODL, the longest-running summit in the game, rewriting the playbook yet again.

With 30+ editions in 20+ countries, HODL isn’t a conference. It’s a protocol for real-world impact.

Save the dates

Dubai: 30–31 October 2025
Riyadh: 3–4 November 2025

Media contact

Shadi Dawi
Global Director – PR, Corporate Communications & Media Relations
+971 55 498 4989
[email protected]

About HODL

HODL, powered by Trescon, is a legacy brand reborn for the decentralized age. Spun out of the World Blockchain Summit, it’s welcomed 30,000+ C-level attendees, 5,000+ investors, and 1,200+ speakers since 2017. From Dubai to Seoul, Singapore to Riyadh, HODL connects crypto-native builders with the real-world capital, policy, and platforms they need to scale.