Unlock Blockchain Hosts Gala Celebrating Top 20 Performing CEOs 2024 Award Winners

Visionary Voices: Dr. Marwan & Dr. Ayesha Set the Tone

The night opened with powerful insights from two leading figures in the UAE’s digital asset landscape.

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center and one of the Top 20 Performing CEOs 2024 Award recipients, delivered an inspiring address outlining the region’s digital asset roadmap. He highlighted the need for collaborative regulation, stronger institutional frameworks, and continued support for innovation — reinforcing Dubai’s role as a key global player.

Dr Ayesha Bin Lootah at TOP 20 performing CEOs 2024 award

Dr Marwan Al Zarouni at TOP 20 performing CEOs 2024 award

Closing the ceremony, Dr. Ayesha Binlootah, Assistant Vice President at VARA, offered a clear and compelling vision for the evolution of the virtual assets space. She emphasized VARA’s mission to build a secure, adaptive regulatory model that supports both innovation and long-term ecosystem resilience.

A Gala Rooted in Community

Now in its third edition, the Top 20 Performing CEOs 2024 Award celebration marked a major milestone — the first time the event was held on the ground in the UAE. The gala recognized leadership that transcends titles, focusing on impact, integrity, and forward-thinking execution.

The nomination process was fully transparent: over 100 names were submitted by the public, then refined to 37 finalists following internal due diligence by the Unlock editorial team. While the award was originally intended to recognize 20 individuals, 21 winners were ultimately selected through public voting — with two nominees receiving the exact same number of votes, resulting in a tie that could not be overlooked.

The evening began with a closed-door roundtable at 5 PM, where 22 executives gathered under Chatham House Rules to discuss the UAE’s expanding leadership in digital assets, the future of stablecoin regulation, and market behavior following the Trump administration’s pro-crypto policy. A full report will be published soon on Unlock Blockchain.

Unlock Roundtable- TOP 20 performing CEOs 2024 award

Guests later moved into a cocktail reception and gala dinner, attended by over 100 industry leaders, including regulators, exchange heads, investors, and founders.

Unlock Emerging Stars Awards: A New Chapter

In his opening remarks, Unlock Founder & CEO Walid Abou Zaki announced the launch of the Unlock Emerging Stars Awards, a new initiative designed to support early-stage startups. Each of the 37 shortlisted nominees will be invited to nominate a UAE-based Web3 or digital asset startup that has secured at least one seed investment. The top three, selected via public vote, will receive media support from Unlock Blockchain.

Dr Marwan receiving TOP 20 performing CEOs 2024 award

Standing for Truth and Leadership

Walid’s keynote traced Unlock’s journey since 2018, recalling its role as the UAE’s first blockchain-focused media platform and its position as a trusted voice for the ecosystem. He credited ADGM for building the first full digital asset framework and VARA for being the world’s first dedicated virtual assets regulator.

“The UAE became a global hub. We were here before the cameras showed up — and we’ll always be here to defend the right narrative,” Abou Zaki said.

He continued: “Unlock is the voice that amplifies your successes, the one that highlights your setbacks, the one that holds the space accountable. That’s what independent media does — and that’s why we’ve never compromised.”

Walid expressed deep appreciation to his team and extended a special thank you to Bijan Alizadeh, Founder of Cypher Capital, for enabling the in-person gala. He clarified that Cypher Capital had no involvement in the nominations or voting, safeguarding the award’s neutrality and credibility.

Top 20 Performing CEOs 2024 Award Winners

Talal Tabbaa – CoinMENA
Michael Chan – Zand Bank
Saloi Benbaha – XDC Network
Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni – Dubai Blockchain Center
Kokila Alagh – KARM Legal Consultants
Saqr Ereiqat – D2A2
Ahmed bin Sulayem – DMCC
Waqas Mirza – Avanza Innovations
Wang Hao – Changer
Ashish Kumar Singh – Loyyal
Asal Alizade – Blocklogica Labs
Irina Heaver – NeosLegal
Rifad Mahasneh – OKX MENA
Fatma Al Safty – MetaEssence
Muhammad Salman Anjum – InvoiceMate
Mehtap Önder – GCEX
Julian Sawyer – Zodia Custody
Scott Thiel – Tokinvest
Maha Al-Saadi – Qatar Financial Centre Authority
Mo Ali Yusuf – Fuze
Ola Doudin – BitOasis

The Top 20 Performing CEOs 2024 Award gala was more than a celebration — it was a reaffirmation of trust, excellence, and Unlock’s continued mission to amplify the stories of those leading the transformation of finance.