Saudi Arabia has launched its first real-world asset tokenization centre, marking a major step in the Kingdom’s efforts to position itself at the forefront of digital finance and to advance its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.
The Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization centre of excellence, established by blockchain infrastructure firm Open World Ltd., will operate as a fully licensed, in-Kingdom hub designed to foster compliant digital asset innovation across sovereign, institutional and enterprise sectors.
The initiative, based in Al Khobar on the Persian Gulf coast, aims to transform conventional assets; from energy infrastructure to real estate and carbon credits into digital tokens on blockchain systems, facilitating broader access to global capital markets.
The announcement follows the company’s plans to merge with NASDAQ-listed VerifyMe, Inc., a move intended to strengthen the combined entity’s capabilities in the digital asset and tokenization infrastructure market.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy; a blueprint to reduce dependence on oil revenues and build a diversified, knowledge-based economy, has set financial sector development and digital transformation as central priorities.
The new RWA tokenization centre is explicitly tied to these objectives, offering a regulatory-aligned framework for digital financial products and services.
The centre will operate under evolving Saudi regulatory frameworks, including oversight from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA).
Its licensing and operational structure aims to ensure that tokenized digital assets meet local compliance, data residency and sovereign security requirements.
By doing so, Saudi authorities hope to foster investor confidence and attract foreign capital while maintaining regulatory integrity.
Real-world asset tokenization refers to converting physical or traditionally off-chain assets into digital tokens on blockchain networks.
These tokens represent ownership rights or financial claims and can be traded or financed more efficiently than conventional assets.
Potential categories include energy infrastructure, real estate financing, sovereign debt and carbon reduction credits.
Officials highlighted the strategic importance of Al Khobar and the Eastern Province as the location for the new centre.
The region, home to Saudi Aramco, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and Dhahran Techno Valley, is a hub for energy and technology innovation.
Local business leaders underscored that this ecosystem provides fertile ground for early pilot projects and institutional collaboration.
“Our goal is to help 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,” said Matt Shaw, co-founder and CEO of Open World.
In its initial phase, the RWA tokenization centre will focus on several key sectors:
Energy asset tokenization, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s vast hydrocarbon and renewable energy portfolio.
Real estate financing, potentially enabling fractional ownership models and broader investor participation.
Carbon credit verification, supporting the trading and tracking of environmental assets to foster sustainable finance.
Pilot programmes are expected to launch by mid-2026, with full operations scheduled to follow later in the year. Open World has already established the necessary legal, commercial and technological infrastructure to operate within Saudi Arabia’s regulatory environment.
The emergence of a regulated tokenization centre in Saudi Arabia underscores a growing global trend toward integrating blockchain-based solutions within traditional finance.
RWA tokenization initiatives are increasingly seen as avenues to unlock liquidity and broaden participation in asset markets historically dominated by institutional investors.
In the United Arab Emirates, authorities have already developed legal frameworks to institutionalize RWA tokenization, reflecting a regional push to modernize capital markets and diversify economic activity.
Similarly, international firms and blockchain networks are exploring tokenization hubs across financial centres in Europe and Asia.
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