Open World Ltd. has appointed Dr. Salman Salem Al-Khaldi as Regional President and Managing Director of the RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence in Saudi Arabia, the company said on March 9, 2026. The appointment positions Open World to launch what it describes as Saudi Arabia’s first licensed real-world asset tokenization facility in 2026, operating under Saudi regulatory and data sovereignty requirements.
Dr. Al-Khaldi will oversee regional strategy, regulatory engagement, and institutional partnerships. He will work closely with the Saudi Central Bank, the Capital Market Authority, and other stakeholders as the company expands its economy-focused operations across the Kingdom.
Leadership Background and Qualifications
Dr. Al-Khaldi brings more than two decades of executive leadership across the technology, petroleum, and petrochemical sectors. At Saudi Aramco, he led projects valued at more than $7 billion, overseeing financial planning, workforce development, and large-scale stakeholder coordination from design through commissioning.
He has advised the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and consulted with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries through the Saudi Energy Information System. His experience spans Saudi commercial law, government contracting, and cross-border partnerships.
RWA Tokenization Center Scope and Mandate
The RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence will operate as a licensed, in-Kingdom entity focused on the compliant tokenization of real-world assets. Target asset classes include energy infrastructure, real estate, and carbon reduction credits, all processed in accordance with Saudi regulatory and data requirements.
The Center is designed to support sovereign and enterprise-scale initiatives across the Kingdom’s energy and industrial ecosystem, including assets associated with Saudi Aramco and its joint ventures. This positions the facility within Saudi Arabia’s broader digital economy agenda tied to Vision 2030.
Executive Statements on the Appointment
“We are investing in Saudi Arabia for the long term. Dr. Al-Khaldi has delivered complex, multi-billion-dollar initiatives within the Kingdom and understands the standards required to operate here. His leadership will define how we earn the trust of Saudi institutions and deliver infrastructure that meets the Kingdom’s standards.”
Matt Shaw, CEO and Co-Founder, Open World
“Saudi Arabia is building regulated digital infrastructure at a national scale, and the timing is deliberate. The RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence gives us a licensed, in-Kingdom foundation to deliver compliant tokenization of energy assets, real estate and carbon credits — initiatives that directly support رؤية السعودية 2030’s digital economy targets.”
Dr. Salman Salem Al-Khaldi, Regional President and Managing Director, Open World Saudi Arabia
Merger Context and Company Background
Dr. Al-Khaldi’s appointment follows Open World’s previously disclosed definitive merger agreement with VerifyMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRME). The merger is expected to position the combined company as a publicly traded provider of tokenization and digital asset infrastructure solutions.
Open World is a blockchain infrastructure company that has supported the development of more than 20 companies since 2023. The firm has advised on projects representing over $65 billion in aggregate network value, measured at peak fully diluted valuations. Its capabilities span RWA tokenization, stablecoin issuance, traditional finance strategies, governance structuring, and public markets advisory.
The company works with teams backed by global venture capital firms including a16z, Multicoin Capital, Dragonfly, and Founders Fund. Open World is expanding its focus to regulated, real-world asset markets in the Gulf region and globally, with the Saudi facility serving as a key node in that strategy.
Future Outlook
The launch of the RWA Tokenization Center in 2026 marks a concrete step in Open World’s Gulf expansion. As Saudi Arabia continues to develop its digital financial infrastructure, the Center’s licensed status and focus on energy and real estate assets align with national priorities under Vision 2030. The combined entity resulting from the VerifyMe merger is expected to bring additional capital and public-market visibility to these efforts.