peaq and Pulsar Launch World’s First Machine Economy Free Zone in UAE

peaq and Pulsar Group have launched the world’s first Machine Economy Free Zone (MEFZ) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This initiative aims to establish the foundations for the Machine Economy in the region, focusing on advancing regulation and investment frameworks, deploying robots and physical infrastructure, and driving relevant innovation.

The MEFZ is designed as a sandbox environment for a human-centric Machine Economy, where humans and machines co-exist, co-create value, and thrive together. The initiative is built on four core pillars: regulation, deployment, investment, and innovation. peaq is working on developing and testing regulatory initiatives, setting up physical and virtual sandboxes for experimentation, connecting top apps with visionary investment bodies, and establishing a regional innovation hub focused on supporting Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) apps.

One of the key initiatives to be tested in the MEFZ is a framework for Machine Tokenization, which aims to lower the barrier to entry for individuals to invest in more expensive robots and machines. This is part of peaq’s vision for a decentralized financial system for robots, vehicles, and machines. The MEFZ will also pilot the world’s first “Universal Basic Ownership (UBO)” program, which provides an income stream directly tied to machine-generated profits, with no intermediaries. The goal is to test how abundance generated by robots can be directly distributed to individuals and communities affected by job automation.

peaq will also set up its new headquarters in the Emirates, making the region the center of its operations. The MEFZ sets the foundation for a Machine Economy in the United Arab Emirates, boosting the nation’s smart city and blockchain innovation through community-powered apps, networks, and machines. This initiative paves the way for wider global adoption of this vision at a nation-state level.

The Machine Economy, driven by the rise of AI and robotics, is becoming a reality where machines create value autonomously with little to no human interference. Without Web3, this transformation could worsen the existing economic situation, with innovation and its benefits concentrated in the hands of a few companies. With peaq, these are the early days of a future where communities co-own, earn from, and govern the machinery the world runs on.

These initiatives are part of a long list that will create an environment for founders to build, deploy, create revenue, network, raise funds, go to market, and scale fast with full regulatory compliance. The announcement follows the Machine Economy Days in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which peaq and Pulsar organized earlier in the year. The successful events saw several apps building on peaq showcase their applications in action and make the case for Web3 as a vital part of smart cities before a distinguished audience of government officials and business decision-makers.

Alyazi Al Khattal, CEO of Pulsar, stated, “We’re honored to be part of peaq’s transformative journey. peaq is redefining what’s possible for the future of the Machine Economy. By boldly bridging the physical and digital worlds through a decentralized, scalable, and sustainable Layer-1 blockchain, peaq is laying the foundation for a new era of real-world connectivity and autonomy. This is more than technology—it’s a movement, and we’re proud to help shape what comes next.”

Till Wendler, co-founder of peaq, added, “The Machine Economy is no longer a far-fetched dream, it is a reality quickly shaping up before our very eyes. peaq makes this transformation work for everyone — and the Emirates, as one of the most innovative nations in the world, is the perfect place to pilot this vision, setting a template and example for the rest of the world.”

peaq is the computer and operating system powering the global, human-centric Machine Economy. It empowers people to own and earn from the devices, robots, vehicles, and infrastructure they use. The peaq network is designed to be the go-to backbone for the Machine Economy and is already home to more than 60 applications in 20+ industries and to millions of devices and machines that run on them. peaq serves as the permissionless, borderless infrastructure and financial system for increasingly intelligent machines to serve all of humanity as AI-driven job automation increases. An open economy that anyone can opt-in into and share in the Age of Abundance.

Pulsar is a pioneering venture studio and consultancy based in Abu Dhabi, specializing in helping technology disruptors navigate complex regulatory environments, build strategic partnerships, and accelerate market expansion. Pulsar partners with bold tech disruptors and leaders of the digital economy. By leveraging their expertise in developing strategic frameworks and fostering collaboration with regional partners, Pulsar facilitates their partners’ market adoption and growth in the UAE and the region.