Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni is a UAE technology entrepreneur and public-sector technology leader whose work spans blockchain, Bitcoin, digital assets, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging-technology policy. He serves as CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC) and CEO of AI for Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). His appointment at DET is part of Dubai's Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to position the city as a global leader in AI innovation and implementation. With over two decades of experience across technology, information security, digital forensics, and AI, Al Zarouni has been a central figure in building Dubai's blockchain and digital-asset ecosystem through education, startup development, government consulting, and institutional industry dialogue.

Dubai Blockchain Center — Founding Story

The Dubai Blockchain Center was inaugurated on 15 May 2018 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is encompassed within Area 2071 in Emirates Towers. The Center aims to bring together blockchain developers, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, government bodies, and technology companies. A 2026 UAE blockchain ecosystem study identifies Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni and Matthies Mende as co-founders of Dubai Blockchain Center. Dubai Future Foundation also states that Al Zarouni founded the region's first blockchain innovation hub. The Center's work spans blockchain education, training programs, research, government and enterprise consulting, startup ecosystem development, digital-asset education, conferences and industry dialogue, and institutional blockchain adoption. Its objective is to help establish Dubai as a global blockchain hub while supporting partnerships, education, research, and consulting.

Current DBCC Role

Current official Dubai Blockchain Center material lists Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni as CEO. He leads the Center's initiatives across blockchain education, Bitcoin education, digital-assets ecosystem development, government and enterprise blockchain adoption, institutional industry dialogue, blockchain research, startup ecosystem building, and consulting and advisory work. The current DBCC website promotes advanced Bitcoin education, including Bitcoin Ordinals coursework led by Al Zarouni. DBCC's 2026 REAL initiative positions the Center as a forum connecting industry leaders, regulators, and institutional digital-asset participants.

Dubai DET — Current AI Role

Current DBCC and UAE government-related sources identify Al Zarouni as CEO of AI for Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). His DET role relates to implementation of AI initiatives supporting government services, economic development, tourism, digital transformation, and public/private sector AI adoption, as part of Dubai's Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence. His title is specifically associated with AI; he is not CEO of the entire Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

OTC Supply — Founder

Dubai Future Foundation states that Al Zarouni launched OTC Supply DMCC in February 2018, describing it as the region's first fully licensed over-the-counter crypto commodity trading entity. Current DBCC-associated material also identifies him as the founder of OTC Supply. OTC Supply played a historical role in Dubai's early crypto ecosystem by providing OTC crypto trading and digital-asset market infrastructure. Its August 2026 operating and licensing status has not been independently re-verified for this profile.

First Crypto DMCC

Current Dubai Blockchain Center-associated material identifies Al Zarouni as Co-Founder of First Crypto DMCC. This relationship is included on the basis of current DBCC-associated sources. The exact company identity, co-founders, current operating status, and his present role have not been independently re-verified beyond those sources.

Quanterium

Dubai Future Foundation historical material states that Al Zarouni co-founded Quanterium, a technology venture focused on social-impact applications involving technologies such as blockchain, AI, IoT, and genomics, including solutions for organ and blood donation. The current organization status and whether Al Zarouni maintains any present operating position have not been independently verified; Quanterium is included here as historical background.

Dubai Electronic Security Center

Current DBCC sources call Al Zarouni a founding member of Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC). Historical DESC material also documents his role as Director of Information Services at DESC. He is described as a founding member, not the founder, of DESC. Current active DESC status has not been re-verified for this profile.

AI Ethical Committee

Current official DBCC biography identifies Al Zarouni as a founding member of the Artificial Intelligence Ethical Committee (AIEC). This is part of his AI-governance background. He did not independently found the committee.

World Economic Forum

Al Zarouni served as a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies from 2020 to 2021, according to his current DBCC profile. The WEF maintains a professional profile for him related to his blockchain and Dubai technology work. This council membership is historical; he should not be labeled a current WEF council member unless freshly verified.

Digital Asset Policy Work

The WEF biography documents Al Zarouni's role heading the Digital Asset Task Force, which reported to the Dubai Future Council for Blockchain and studied digital-asset adoption and regulatory guidance. This work involved research, advisory contributions, and regulatory guidance development for the digital-asset ecosystem. It is included here as historical public-policy work. Al Zarouni does not personally regulate crypto businesses in Dubai; participation in policy discussions and advisory bodies is distinct from statutory regulatory authority.

Early Bitcoin & Crypto History

Dubai Future Foundation's biography states that before establishing the Blockchain Center, Al Zarouni was an early crypto investor who began Bitcoin mining in 2013. He created Dubai's first crypto payment processing and blockchain software development company in January 2014. He later launched OTC Supply DMCC in February 2018. These historical claims are included with attribution to Dubai Future Foundation. Starting Bitcoin mining in 2013 is not the same as founding Bitcoin mining in Dubai. No estimate of the number of Bitcoins mined, personal BTC holdings, current wallet balance, or personal crypto wealth is published in this profile.

Education & Early Career

Historical professional records support that Al Zarouni received a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Computer Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master's degree in Information Security and Intelligence from Edith Cowan University. A 2018 conference biography stated that he was pursuing a Doctor of Information Technology at Edith Cowan University at that time; current sources use the title "Dr." The precise doctoral graduation year has not been independently verified from a university, thesis, or dissertation record and is therefore omitted. He has held the CISSP professional certification historically. His career spans more than two decades across technology, information security, digital forensics, and AI, with documented research and conference activity in information security and digital forensics.

Research & Academic Work

Historical conference records document Al Zarouni's academic and research activity in information security, network security, computer forensics, and cybersecurity. He has authored academic work in these fields. The exact paper title and award year for a reported Best Paper Award at an Australian Information Security Management Conference have not been independently re-verified and are omitted from this profile.

Dubai Blockchain Center — Project Explainer

Dubai Blockchain Center is a blockchain ecosystem, research, and education organization. It serves blockchain developers, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, government bodies, and technology companies. Its model includes education and training programs, startup and ecosystem development, research, government and enterprise consulting, digital-asset education, and events. DBCC is a strategic partner to Dubai Future Foundation. It is not a blockchain network, a cryptocurrency exchange, a token issuer, the UAE regulator, or a Dubai government department.

Governance & Entity Separation

This profile maintains strict separation between distinct organizations: Dubai Blockchain Center (blockchain ecosystem, research, and education organization); Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Dubai government department where Al Zarouni has an AI leadership role); Dubai Electronic Security Center (government cybersecurity body where he was a founding member and held historical leadership responsibilities); OTC Supply DMCC (a separate crypto trading business); First Crypto DMCC (a separate company co-founded by Al Zarouni); and Dubai Future Foundation (a strategic ecosystem partner, not owned or founded by Al Zarouni). These entities are never merged in this profile.

Public Commentary

Al Zarouni is an active public commentator on blockchain adoption, Bitcoin, digital assets, AI, cybersecurity, government innovation, technology regulation, and Dubai's emerging-technology ecosystem. In his view, transformative technologies such as blockchain and AI are central to Dubai's economic and digital transformation. His opinions and predictions are attributed to him and are not presented as guaranteed outcomes or facts.

Why Marwan Al Zarouni Matters in Crypto

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni's role in the development of Dubai's blockchain and digital-asset ecosystem spans early Bitcoin involvement, blockchain business creation, the founding of Dubai Blockchain Center, education and ecosystem building, government and private-sector technology collaboration, digital-asset research, and the connection of blockchain, cybersecurity, and AI. Through DBCC, he has supported blockchain education, startup development, and institutional industry dialogue. Through his DET role, he contributes to Dubai's AI implementation strategy. His work connects emerging-technology policy, education, and practical business building in one of the world's most active blockchain ecosystems. He should not be described as the founder of crypto in Dubai, the creator of UAE blockchain, or Dubai's top crypto founder; his contributions are best understood as those of a key builder and connector across multiple emerging-technology sectors.