On 20 September 2020, Etisalat Digital, the digital arm of UAE telecommunications firm Etisalat, announced its partnership with technology services firm Smartworld for a blockchain-based credential solution. The solution, Shahada, is targeted towards educational institutions in the UAE. Smartworld itself is a joint venture between Etisalat and Dubai South, a project aiming to create a self-sustained city around the Dubai airport.
Launched this February by Smartworld and blockchain firm Grape Technology, Shahada is a SaaS blockchain-based solution that creates, stores, and verifies academic credentials through a web platform and app. It aims to bring those involved in the UAE education sector together in one platform, while also allowing the government to certify credentials that are issued internationally. Education institutions of all levels will be able to issue credentials, securely preventing paper certificate forgery. Students can share these credentials with third parties who can verify their authenticity. Etisalat Digital’s role is to help Shahada with its infrastructure, operational competences, and market reach.
Smartworld has previously delved into EduTech, partnering with UAE’s Higher Colleges of Technology for a blockchain-based e-credential solution in July 2020. With the platform, alumni of the colleges could access their documents and qualifications. Employers and third parties could then verify these.
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