H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, has launched the “Dubai Program for Gaming 2033.” This initiative aims to position Dubai as one of the top 10 cities in the global gaming industry and generate 30,000 new jobs in the gaming sector. The program also seeks to significantly contribute to Dubai’s digital economy growth and increase the GDP by approximately US$1 billion by 2033.
Under the “Dubai Metaverse Strategy,” three new initiatives were introduced during a meeting of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy. These include the “Metaverse Alliance,” a global network involving government entities, international tech companies, entrepreneurs, and startups specialized in the metaverse world. The alliance aims to promote collaborations for projects centered around virtual worlds or interactions.
Additionally, “Metaverse Guidelines” will identify impactful metaverse applications and provide a framework for Dubai government entities to regulate and define optimal uses of the metaverse in government work. “Metaverse Pioneers” is a comprehensive program aimed at equipping Dubai government employees with essential skills and tools to harness the potential of metaverse technology in their professional capacities.
Other updates include the “Create Apps in Dubai” initiative, which has trained 500 Emirati talents in mobile application development, contributing to the growth of Dubai’s mobile application market. Amazon’s SME initiative, launched in March 2023, aims to feature products from 100,000 small and medium-sized companies on its UAE store by 2026, with 14,000 new companies registering since its inception. The “Metaverse Accelerator Program” launched by Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) has graduated 10 startups as part of its first batch, attracting over 250 applications from the UAE and around the world, focusing on gaming, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and Web 3.
