UAE based IOPn, a decentralized infrastructure company pioneering the OPN Chain, a sovereign-ready blockchain designed for identity-verified participants, has partnered with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe to provide the first Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) program powered by blockchain.

As per the announcement, the project will be executed through STP Service Advisory (STPSA), the government’s exclusive implementing partner.

The UAE has become central to many blockchain and virtual asset projects across the globe, assisting countries like Pakistan and others.

For this solution, which leverage blockchain and AI as well as cloud technologies built and managed in the UAE. Through IOPn’s OPN Chain and its advanced ATLAS platform, powered by NVIDIA AI and computing technologies, the program will deliver a transparent, efficient, and fully secure citizenship application and approval system.

The initiative offers direct benefits to the UAE’s innovation community, creating new demand for Emirati talent and enterprises in AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Through IOPn’s growing network, Emirati startups and specialists will have the opportunity to export homegrown technologies, participate in international tenders, and contribute to digital nation-building projects across Africa, Asia, and beyond.

The implementation of this digital-first framework from Abu Dhabi reflects the UAE’s commitment to exporting innovation that supports inclusive, sustainable, and tech-driven growth. The partnership will also open opportunities for UAE-based developers, blockchain engineers, and AI specialists to contribute to global digital governance solutions, strengthening the country’s knowledge economy and supporting the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071 vision.

“This partnership is truly historic,” said Mojtaba, Chief Executive Officer of IOPn Ltd. “By introducing the world’s first Citizenship-by-Investment program on blockchain, São Tomé and Príncipe is setting a global benchmark for digital sovereignty, and the UAE is proudly at the heart of this transformation. Through this initiative, we are proving that UAE-built technologies can empower nations, create transparent systems, and open new pathways for Emirati innovation and investment.”

Disney Ramos, Director of the Citizenship-by-Investment Unit of São Tomé and Príncipe, praised the UAE’s role in enabling this achievement, saying: “Our collaboration with STPSA and IOPn marks a turning point not only for our nation but for how small countries can leverage innovation from global technology leaders like the UAE. This partnership ensures transparency, efficiency, and international credibility, while opening new doors for cooperation with the Emirati innovation ecosystem.”

UAE Gewan Holding invests and partners with IOPn

Earlier in August 2025, UAE Gewan Holding, part of Abu Dhabi’s multi-vertical industry conglomerate, NG9 Holding, partnered with IOPn, to accelerate the development of sovereign AI, blockchain, and digital identity solutions that strengthen the UAE’s role as a global hub for technological leadership.

At the heart of this collaboration is a unique sovereign AI stack powered by NVIDIA GPUs and anchored by IOPn’s OPN Chain. This decentralized infrastructure, built on reference architecture, combines high-performance AI computing with a sovereign digital identity layer; ensuring governments, enterprises, and citizens can operate in secure, compliant, and future-proof environments.

Among the flagship projects is Project ATLAS (the Advance Tokenised Liquid-cooled AI Stack), developed by IOPn with Betabytes, an official NVIDIA Cloud Partner. ATLAS will provide sovereign-grade AI infrastructure as part of the broader OPN ecosystem, which also includes digital financial infrastructure, asset tokenisation, and an AI Academy to build national talent.