The project was announced by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's economy minister, at the maiden Metaverse Assembly in Dubai, being held at the city's Museum of the Future.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in the process of opening a ‘ministry’ inside the immersive virtual world – metaverse – Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's economy minister, has announced.
Visitors leave the Future Museum which is the venue for The Dubai Metaverse Assembly, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
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The project, unveiled at Dubai's ‘Museum of the Future’ (pictured above), will be undertaken by the country's economy ministry, Al Marri said. The minister was speaking at the maiden Dubai Metaverse Assembly, being held at the museum.
‘Economy ministry’ inside the metaverse
Once the project is completed, and launched, those donning their virtual reality goggles or using other means to enter the virtual world will see the UAE's economy ministry inside. It will be open for business with companies, and ready to sign even virtual agreements with foreign governments.
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"We trained our employees to really immerse themselves in the metaverse, use the metaverse and engage with the Generation Z that is going to come," Al Marri said at the event.
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"We trained our employees to really immerse themselves in the metaverse, use the metaverse and engage with the Generation Z that is going to come," Al Marri said at the event.
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With metaverse, the UAE hopes to add $4 billion to its GDP, as well as expand its workforce, by adding 40,000 more employees, by 2030.
Existing metaverse projects in the UAE
An early private-sector project, launched in February 2017, is the ‘Mars 2117.’ It is named after the ‘dream’ of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, to build a colony on the red planet. Under this 100-year plan, the emirates plans to build the first inhabitable human settlement on Mars.
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