What Was Outer Edge Riyadh 2024?
Outer Edge Riyadh 2024 was a Web3, AI, and gaming edutainment forum held on 23 April 2024 at The Garage innovation hub in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Co-hosted by the Edge of Company and Animoca Brands, and presented by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), it marked the first time the Outer Edge series — best known for its Los Angeles editions — came to the Kingdom. The event was held at The Garage, a Riyadh innovation hub for local and international tech startups, just 15 minutes from downtown.
Deliberately designed as an invite-only, intimate forum rather than a mass conference, Outer Edge Riyadh focused on bridging regional and global pioneers in blockchain, gaming, AI, and digital culture. To follow similar shows, check CoinGabbar's Web3 tech events page and the crypto events calendar.
Key Themes and Event Highlights
The event wove together entertainment, education, and networking around Web3, gaming, AI, and digital culture.
Event Highlights
- Opening keynote by HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, who addressed gamers and creatives with a vision for Saudi Arabia's place at the frontier of gaming and digital culture.
- Global speakers and guests: Mark Cuban (entrepreneur and investor), William Shatner (actor and NFT creator), Yat Siu (Co-Founder and CEO, Animoca Brands), Tom Bilyeu (entrepreneur), and Joshua Kriger (Co-Founder, Outer Edge) all participated. Minh Do (COO, Animoca Brands) spoke on Saudi Arabia's global ambitions.
- Partner projects on the floor: myco (Web3 video streaming), READYgg (blockchain gaming ecosystem), Orbit Startups (global VC firm), Takadao (Shariah-compliant community-owned insurance), Nuqtah (Saudi Arabia's first NFT marketplace), WNDR, Motorverse, Flickplay, Hedera, ApeChain, and Slingshot DAO all participated.
- Art and culture: Unique artworks by Saudi emerging artists were curated by Nuqtah and displayed throughout the venue. The forum closed with a musical performance by DISH DASH, one of Saudi Arabia's most successful DJ duos.
- Government representation: Representatives from the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology attended, signalling official government interest in Web3.
- Attendance: Over 700 invite-only guests from around the world attended the intimate forum.
How Blockchain and Web3 Are Growing in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has a deliberate dual-track strategy on crypto: public speculation is cautiously discouraged by SAMA, but institutional blockchain innovation is aggressively encouraged under Vision 2030. The Kingdom now accounts for roughly 4% of global crypto mining capacity, with much of it leveraging renewable energy. Riyad Bank's innovation arm Jeel partnered with Ripple in January 2026 to test blockchain-based cross-border payments in a regulatory sandbox. Saudi Arabia invested $38 billion through its Public Investment Fund (PIF) in gaming and related technologies. KACST's strategic partnership with Animoca Brands includes plans for a physical Web3 hub in Riyadh. The Saudi crypto market was valued at $24.9 billion in 2025 and is projected to nearly double by 2034. For more shows, see CoinGabbar's Web3 tech events hub.
Impact of the Event on Saudi Arabia's Web3 Scene
Outer Edge Riyadh was one of the first international Web3 forums in the Kingdom, arriving at the exact moment Saudi Arabia was aligning blockchain, gaming, and AI with Vision 2030. It connected local founders and government officials with global Web3 leaders including Animoca Brands' ecosystem. The partnership between KACST and Animoca Brands to develop a physical Web3 hub in Riyadh — announced around the event — gave the sector a concrete institutional anchor.
Why Sponsors, Exhibitors and Projects Should Join
- Blockchain gaming firms: Saudi's $38B PIF gaming investment makes the Kingdom a top Web3 gaming target market.
- NFT and digital art platforms: Nuqtah's growth shows real appetite for digital collectibles among Saudi audiences.
- AI and enterprise blockchain: Vision 2030 alignment is the key to unlock government and institutional partnerships.
- VCs and global funds: early positioning in Saudi Arabia's nascent Web3 ecosystem can yield strategic long-term partnerships.
To get involved, list a crypto event or email event@coingabbar.io.
Why KOLs, Media and Influencers Attend
An invite-only Web3 forum with royalty, Silicon Valley investors, and Saudi government officials in the room generates global headlines. KOLs and media get access to a rare intersection of Web3 and geopolitics. Coverage can spread through the crypto press release network.
Why Builders and Participants Join
Builders come to Outer Edge Riyadh for government access and capital. You meet officials who can open enterprise contracts and investors who understand MENA's scale. Many leave with partnerships that would be impossible to form elsewhere.
Tickets and PR Offers With CoinGabbar
CoinGabbar offers ticket discounts at partner events and free or discounted press release publishing for projects. Email event@coingabbar.io to explore partnership options.
How the Event Concluded and What Came Next
Outer Edge Riyadh 2024 closed with music from DISH DASH and a room full of new partnerships between Saudi government, global Web3 leaders, and regional builders. KACST and Animoca Brands' plans for a Riyadh Web3 hub were confirmed. The event helped establish Saudi Arabia as an ambitious and welcoming destination for Web3 innovation. Track upcoming shows on the crypto events calendar and our Web3 tech events page.
Glossary of Key Terms
- KACST: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia's national science and technology labs.
- Animoca Brands: a global Web3 and gaming investment firm that co-hosted the event and partnered with KACST.
- Nuqtah: Saudi Arabia's first NFT marketplace, a local startup that curated art for the event.
- Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia's plan to diversify the economy away from oil, with gaming, AI, and blockchain as key pillars.
- The Garage: Riyadh's innovation hub for tech startups, where the forum was held.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, or investment advice. The event described was held in April 2024; future dates and details may differ. Please confirm with the official source and do your own research. Crypto assets are volatile.
