Why the UAE could be the hub of the metaverse

Why the UAE could be the hub of the metaverse

Dubai World Trade Centre launched MetaIncubator, the first metaverse incubator in the Middle East, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has developed a new metaverse platform, allowing people to access medical care and receive health-related support virtually. In the private sector, Dubai-based metaverse startup Eikonikos has already recently raised $2 million in pre-seed funding. Action in this space heating up.

To understand the metaverse it's important to start with Web 1.0 in the late nineties and early 2000s that boomed and went bust with dotcoms. Then came Web 2.0 riding on social media and myriad apps. The metaverse is the latest iteration of the World Wide Web as we know it. We will call it Web 3.0 and it's quickly gaining traction among people and businesses in the UAE.

So what is the metaverse and how does it work? Simply put, it creates a new environment where users are virtually connected with their family, friends, pets, favourite items and experiences — it transports them to the next generation of social interactions.

Dubai said it will work with private sector companies and investors to create a futuristic, human-centred version of the city that capitalises on opportunities thrown up by the metaverse.

Spelling out plans,