In a recent long form video interview with AGORACOM (see link at the end of this article), Rob Anson, CEO of Fobi AI Inc., discussed the company’s accelerating Gulf expansion strategy, including its assessment of a potential listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). Just days after announcing a distribution agreement with UAE-based Silkbridge Ventures, Fobi is now exploring whether an ADX listing could broaden its investor base and support greater regional engagement as it plans commercial operations in Dubai.
The interview revealed a strategic move unfolding at remarkable speed — but one that has been in development for months behind the scenes.
AGORACOM Beyond The Mic Feature Article Issued On Behalf of Fobi AI Inc.
November 12, 2026 12:00 PM EST
From Partnership Announcement to Exchange Exploration in One Week
When Fobi announced its distribution agreement with Silkbridge Ventures on November 5, 2026, the company established a framework to develop government and enterprise opportunities across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and other international regions. The agreement positioned Fobi to build sovereign AI, identity, cybersecurity, and digital trust infrastructure for organizations requiring greater control over data and digital interactions.
Within days of that announcement, the response from the region prompted Fobi to begin assessing whether an additional listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange could support its commercial expansion plans.
“Since we announced it, yeah, 100%,” Anson confirmed when asked about the volume of inbound contacts. “I’ve had well over 200, safely to say, inbound LinkedIn messages from various investment groups and stuff, and business development, government arms and stuff in the area since you and I spoke.”
The CEO characterized the regional interest as substantive rather than superficial. “There’s a lot going on there. That’s why I was so excited about it. It’s not just talk. It’s not superficial. They’re actually looking to do things. Not just put out titles in the news and media, they’re looking to make impact.”
Why the UAE — And Why Now
Fobi’s Gulf expansion reflects a calculated assessment of where enterprise AI, data sovereignty, and quantum-secure infrastructure are becoming strategic priorities. According to Anson, the regional interest extends beyond general AI adoption into specific deployment requirements.
“A lot of it is exploration as to how we can help their legacy business,” Anson explained. “People are looking now for quantum-ready solutions. People are looking for exactly what that demo was.”
He referenced a live demonstration Fobi conducted featuring its connected technology ecosystem — FORTRESS (sovereign enterprise AI), FIXYR (intelligent automation), AltID 3.0 (quantum-secured identity and trust), and AgenticBrain (conversational AI). “A lot of people, through research, actually found our interview and demo that we did, or not interview, but our live demo of that day webcast we did with Uddeshya,” referring to Uddeshya Agrawal, Fobi’s CTO.
The inquiries have been detailed and operationally focused. “They’ve been on YouTube, they looked at the thing, they had very pointed questions, how would this work with our servers over here?” Anson said.
One area generating significant interest: data centers. “Data centers is a very big, valuable component in that part of the world,” Anson noted. “The sort of development there has been accelerated, I guess you could say, due to the investment in sport, as they see it as another commodity and wealth asset for them.”
He contrasted the Gulf’s AI infrastructure development with regulatory headwinds in other markets. “Versus here, where obviously, now we’ve seen the election results, there’s a big fear of halting, you know, the world of AI and data centers and all these things here.”
The Business Case for Localization
Fobi’s approach to the UAE market reflects an understanding that regional credibility requires more than remote engagement. The company is planning to incorporate a business entity in Dubai and establish local operations, creating a regional base to pursue enterprise contracts, government opportunities, and strategic capital relationships.
“We couldn’t have been able to do this without the help of Vijay and team at Silkbridge, because it’s all process,” Anson explained. Vijay Tirathrai, founder and general partner of Silkbridge Ventures, is the former managing director and head of MENAPT at Techstars, where he oversaw multiple investment funds and accelerator programs from 2017 to 2025.
“The incorporation and all the rest of the legalities, the banking, you know, building infrastructure is important,” Anson continued. “We’re not flying in on a shiny jet and bringing home a suitcase of money and never returning.”
The CEO emphasized that regional authorities evaluate potential partners based on their commitment to local presence and economic contribution. “What are you bringing to the region? We’re bringing — we’re creating opportunities, not just in technology, but in infrastructure, investment, job creation. All of these things, and this is very important.”
Fobi’s CTO, Uddeshya Agrawal, will be relocating to the new Dubai office as part of the company’s regional expansion plans.
Assessing the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Opportunity
Fobi has begun working with legal counsel and interested parties in the region to assess the feasibility of an additional listing of its common shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The company will evaluate ADX’s published foreign issuer criteria, potential alternative listing routes, the availability of discretionary relief, and strategic transactions that could support regional growth plans and help meet applicable listing requirements.
Anson was careful to characterize the exploration as preliminary. “There’s a million different hoops and hurdles and processes and benchmarks and all these things they look at,” he said. “I’m open to anything that makes sense that’s gonna move the needle.”
When asked whether he already had a sense of fit based on conversations with partners in the region, Anson confirmed the company has been evaluating the opportunity strategically. “Like I said, I’m big picture. This would be part of maybe one transaction that enables us to solidify something here. Obviously, the goal is something much larger for a potential other listing down the road.”
He added that the assessment involves considerations beyond regulatory compliance. “Part of it’s respect. Part of it is strategic alignment, and getting — you have to make investment. And investment comes from sometimes not just good faith and goodwill. It’s a well-articulated plan as to where we can really go.”
What an ADX Listing Could Mean for Fobi
If completed, an ADX listing could broaden Fobi’s reach among Gulf investors and provide eligible investors with an additional venue to trade Fobi’s common shares alongside its existing TSX Venture Exchange listing. Any effect on trading liquidity would depend on investor participation, trading arrangements, and market conditions.
Anson compared the ADX to other exchanges that serve both emerging and established companies. “It’s a gateway,” he said. “It offers both, just like, you know, TSX does as well. There’s all sorts of companies, there’s all sorts of opportunities.”
The CEO framed the potential listing as part of a broader commercial and capital markets strategy. “When we look for opportunity, we tend to find greater opportunity and potential, versus being wholly focused on one. And this, as I said, what if we could do this, Rob? Would you have interest in participating? And, you know, I knew nothing about it, of course, and same questions you had. But, you know, I’m investing into something much more strategic, and much, much bigger, you could say.”
Converting Technology Into Commercial Agreements
In the interview, Anson emphasized that Fobi’s Gulf expansion is focused on converting technology capabilities into commercial agreements and recurring revenue. He discussed the company’s approach to deal flow and transaction velocity.
“We intend to be very aggressive as to what it is we’re doing from a deal flow perspective and a transaction perspective,” Anson said. “There’s great value in being a public issuer that can provide some sense of not just increase in valuation for others, but path to eventual liquidity. There’s a lot of attraction and momentum.”
The CEO acknowledged that the company’s expansion plans extend beyond what has been publicly announced. “There’s a much bigger, bigger play here, George,” he said, while noting he could not yet disclose specifics.
On the Road — Building Partnerships Beyond the Gulf
Anson joined the interview from Las Vegas, where he was meeting with potential partners in the hospitality sector. “Obviously, we have a lot of previous contacts and business here,” he said, noting that he was scheduled to conduct product demonstrations later that day.
He connected the Las Vegas meetings to Fobi’s Gulf expansion strategy. “When it comes to hospitality, as we discussed last time, for Dubai, the region there, Vegas is a town built on experiential. You know, it used to be built on slot machines, as they said, back in the day, but now it’s built on entertainment and experience.”
Fobi’s product portfolio includes technologies designed to create more seamless and efficient guest experiences, fan attendee experiences, and customer interactions — capabilities relevant to both Las Vegas hospitality operators and Dubai’s experiential economy.
“We’re doing a couple demos here this afternoon, and I will actually be getting to go home here in a few days, back to Canada, so I’m greatly looking forward to that,” Anson said. “But, till then, we’ll just keep swinging away.”
Investor Takeaway
Fobi AI’s assessment of a potential Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange listing represents a strategic response to regional interest following the company’s November 5 announcement of its Silkbridge Ventures distribution agreement. The company is evaluating whether an ADX listing could support its planned Dubai operations, broaden its Gulf investor base, and facilitate strategic capital relationships as it pursues government and enterprise opportunities across international markets.
The speed of development — from partnership announcement to exchange assessment in less than one week — reflects both the company’s months of behind-the-scenes preparation and the substantive regional interest in Fobi’s sovereign AI, identity, cybersecurity, and digital trust infrastructure.
A decision to proceed with an ADX listing application will depend on whether the feasibility assessment identifies a viable listing route and whether Fobi can meet applicable requirements. Any listing would be subject to required corporate, exchange, and regulatory approvals.
As Anson characterized the opportunity: “I’m not interested in small ball anymore. We’re looking to make big, significant moves, and it is what it is. We’re here to swing for the fence.”
TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO GO TO: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfL457LW0vdKRzZ61NXeYFyshLOXxNJO2
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Last modified: November 12, 2026
