Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has given the green light to the “Dubai Program for Gaming 2033” and has also propelled Dubai’s Metaverse Strategy forward.
The “Dubai Program for Gaming 2033” aims to position Dubai among the top 10 global gaming cities and create 30,000 new jobs in the gaming sector. Meanwhile, the Metaverse Strategy, which was unveiled in 2022, is expected to generate 40,000 new jobs in the virtual world and accrue $500 million in revenue over the next five years.
Under the Metaverse Strategy, the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy has introduced three initiatives: the Metaverse Alliance, Metaverse Guidelines, and Metaverse Pioneers.
The Metaverse Alliance is a collaborative network comprising various government entities, technology companies, and metaverse-focused startups. It will promote partnerships and initiatives centered around virtual reality (VR) and deliver innovative solutions to enhance government services.
The Metaverse Guidelines seek to identify common metaverse applications and establish a framework to ensure their safe and responsible use. This direction aligns with previous efforts, as last month, Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in the UAE, unveiled the “Responsible Metaverse Self-Governance Framework” whitepaper, emphasizing privacy, transparency, and inclusivity within the virtual world.
The Metaverse Pioneers program is designed to equip Dubai government employees with the necessary skills and tools to harness metaverse technology in their professional roles. It encompasses a variety of events, training sessions, and workshops organized by Digital Dubai, an online platform dedicated to transforming Dubai into a fully smart, paperless city.
These initiatives underscore Dubai’s ambition to lead in the Web3 landscape, and government entities are steadily progressing in that direction.
For instance, last month, Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) ventured into the metaverse, creating a virtual space for streamlined interactions and service requests.
Additionally, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) launched the “DIFC Metaverse Platform” earlier this year, focusing on accelerating Web3 initiatives, fostering a metaverse community, and developing policies and legislation to ensure safe usage.
