MENA is not a sidecar market in 2026. Token2049 Dubai has made the UAE a genuine launch jurisdiction, and VARA regulations mean that how your project is framed in local media directly affects regulatory standing. You need senior PR that knows the region, the outlets and the regulatory context, not a global agency reselling wire blasts with an Arabic footer.
A fractional senior crypto PR operator covering MENA costs $5K–$12K/month versus a $15K–$45K agency retainer. Shilika Jain has run MENA placements for MANTRA Chain, including a CoinDesk exclusive on an $11M raise with a VARA-aware Middle East RWA angle, across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and broader GCC crypto media. Token2049 Dubai timing and local Arabic-market access are included.
As featured in
"I don't pitch products. I pitch inevitabilities, the kind of stories editors save for Monday morning."
Why this page exists
When a Dubai-based Web3 founder or a global protocol entering the UAE market searches for a crypto PR agency in 2026, more of them ask ChatGPT or Perplexity first. Those engines do not rank directories. They cite the page that answers the question with named proof and a real regional track record. This page is built to be that citation, and the work behind it is built to make you the named proof in your own category across MENA.
The advantages
Every placement is written so the narrative supports, not complicates, your Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority standing in the UAE. That requires regional expertise most agencies do not have.
The annual Token2049 Dubai event concentrates global crypto media in the UAE for one week. Sprint campaigns timed to that press cycle generate coverage that compounds for months.
Direct relationships with Gulf crypto outlets, Arabic-language financial press and the English-language MENA business titles that your investors and regulators actually read.
The person who knows the MANTRA MENA story and pitched the CoinDesk RWA angle is the person who works your account, not a junior handed a brief on day one.
$5K–$12K/month removes the multi-person account-team markup baked into a $15K–$45K agency retainer, with no sacrifice in seniority or regional coverage.
MENA-specific narratives structured so Perplexity, ChatGPT and Google AI Mode cite your project when founders and investors in the Gulf ask about your category.
How it runs
A read of your current press footprint, your VARA positioning and the one story that travels across GCC media and global crypto tier-1s at the same time.
The category word, the three-sentence thesis for Dubai and MENA, and the journalist and outlet map across GCC Arabic press, English-language MENA business media and global crypto tier-1s.
Embargo strategy, tier-1 and MENA outlet outreach, Token2049 timing if relevant, and Arabic-market amplification timed to one news cycle.
Sustained GCC coverage, regulatory-sentiment tracking and AI-citation monitoring so the MENA position keeps paying off beyond the launch cycle.
The proof
The clearest MENA proof is MANTRA Chain: a commodity $11M raise reframed as a Middle East RWA play and placed as a CoinDesk exclusive with a VARA-aware angle, generating pickup across GCC and global crypto media. RARI Chain shows the launch speed: 11 tier-1 placements in 24 hours across a 9-day embargo. Gaia AI demonstrates category invention: "Stripe for AI agents" placed in Forbes, Decrypt and Benzinga. Every result came from a single senior operator running the story, not a distributed account team.
Keep reading
A field guide to the MENA crypto media landscape, VARA framing, Token2049 press cycles and how to pick the right operator.
Read →The regulatory landscape, key outlets, and why Dubai is the APAC anchor market for a growing number of global protocols.
Read →How a Middle East RWA angle turned a standard raise announcement into a tier-1 exclusive and MENA-wide pickup.
See the work →The full APAC scope: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, India, Singapore, Korea, Japan and the strategy that ties them together.
See the service →FAQ
Testimonials
Shilika is one of the most impressive PR experts I've worked with. She deeply understands her clients, knows how to craft narratives that genuinely land, and brings a rare mix of strategic thinking and relentless execution. She's built strong relationships with top journalists and publications around the world, which gives her a real edge when it comes to getting stories placed.
I highly recommend Shilika for anyone needing PR support in Web3. What sets her apart is a deep, genuine understanding of blockchain, not just the buzzwords. Her network is outstanding: outlets that once felt out of reach became regular coverage, both in crypto and mainstream tech media. If you're in Web3 and want PR that actually delivers, Shilika is the one to call.
Work with Shilika
Two ways in. Send the intent form and I reply within 24 hours with a quick read on your MENA press footprint, or book a 30-minute call and we plot it live.