Token2049 Dubai: Lifejackets Compulsory, Tuxedos Not Required

Token2049, the annual conference for the Web3 community, will commence tomorrow, April 18. However, due to heavy rainfall in the past few days, the city may face some obstacles in hosting the event. The desert city, which usually receives a mere 9.5cm (around 4 inches) of rain annually, has been drenched with nearly 15cm (about 6 inches) in just 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday evening, causing chaos in the arid metropolis.
Social media platforms are flooded with videos and clips showcasing this unlikely situation. Streets have transformed into rivers, cars have been submerged, airplanes are spraying water on flooded runways, and there are stories of diverted flights and conference attendees being trapped in their hotels.
Dubai International Airport, the second busiest airport in the world with 87 million passengers, urged travelers not to visit the city this morning – a first for the desert nation.
Despite the inconveniences faced by visitors, the conference is still scheduled to proceed. Organizers hope that the return of typical Emirati weather for this time of year – blue skies and temperatures around 30°C – will help the city recover and resume normal operations.
Cointelegraph’s reporter, Ezra Reguerra, is in Dubai to cover the event and has shared some astounding videos of the city after the storms.
Token2049 will be held from April 18-19, 2024, at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai. Considered as one of the most significant global events for the Web3 and crypto community, this year marks the first time the conference is taking place in Dubai.
Tickets for the event sold out well in advance, and approximately 10,000 attendees from more than 4,000 companies and 100 countries are expected over the two days. The agenda features various topics such as decentralized AI, Web3 gaming, DeFi, and blockchain scalability. As expected from Dubai, the event will also include exhibitions, live DJ sets, and top-notch hospitality.
Token2049 actually commenced on April 15 with a week-long series of meetups, workshops, and parties. The second Token2049 event of the year will be held in Singapore in September.