Open World Ltd., a blockchain infrastructure company, has announced the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s first RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence in Al Khobar. This landmark initiative marks a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital economy transformation, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in compliant digital asset innovation.
The announcement follows Open World’s January 5, 2026 disclosure regarding its planned merger with VerifyMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRME), which will position the combined entity as a leading infrastructure provider in the digital asset and tokenization sector within public markets.
Strategic Infrastructure for Digital Asset Innovation
The RWA Tokenization Center will operate as a fully licensed, in-Kingdom entity designed to accelerate compliant digital asset innovation for sovereign, enterprise, and institutional clients across Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region. The center directly supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Financial Sector Development Program, which aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a globally competitive financial and investment hub.
As Saudi regulatory frameworks continue to mature, the center will enable compliant tokenization of real-world assets including energy infrastructure, tokenized carbon reduction credits, real estate, sovereign bonds, and eventually regulated stablecoins. These initiatives will launch on Open World’s sovereign and national-scale tokenization infrastructure, introduced in December 2025 through its partnership with Abstract.
Leadership Vision and Economic Impact
“Saudi Arabia is leading the global conversation on how digital assets can be deployed in service of national economic priorities. By establishing our Center of Excellence in Al Khobar, we are making a long-term commitment to build alongside Saudi partners, under Saudi regulations, with infrastructure that meets the Kingdom’s sovereign data and security requirements.”
Matt Shaw, Co-founder and CEO of Open World
Shaw emphasized that the goal is to transform Saudi Arabia’s tremendous real-world asset base into globally accessible, compliant digital instruments that attract international investment while ensuring value creation remains within the Kingdom.
Strategic Location in the Eastern Province
“Welcoming Open World to Al Khobar represents a significant step in our region’s digital transformation journey. The Eastern Province is home to Saudi Aramco, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran Techno Valley and the Kingdom’s largest concentration of energy assets, making it the ideal location to pioneer real-world asset tokenization.”
Dr. Salman Salem Al Khaldi, Member of the Industry and Energy Committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Initial Focus Areas and Timeline
The center’s initial focus areas include:
- Energy asset tokenization for specific asset types
- Real estate development financing solutions
- On-chain verification and storage of carbon reduction credits
- Sovereign-grade delivery standards with emphasis on data residency
- Local security controls aligned with national economic considerations
The RWA Tokenization Center is expected to commence full operations in 2026, with initial pilot projects targeted for mid-year launch. Open World has established the necessary legal, licensing, commercial, and technological infrastructure required to operate directly within Saudi Arabia’s regulatory environment, ensuring full compliance with Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and Capital Market Authority (CMA) requirements.
Future Outlook and Strategic Partnerships
To support growing institutional adoption in Saudi Arabia, Open World plans to collaborate with financial institutions, government entities, and regulators to develop frameworks for investor protection, regulatory clarity, and standardized tokenization practices. Strategic partnership announcements are expected throughout 2026, further solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for digital asset innovation and blockchain technology implementation.
