In a significant milestone for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) metaverse landscape, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has launched its inaugural Metaverse Accelerator Programme, featuring 10 regional and global startups. Aligned with the Dubai Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy Goals, this program represents the DIFC’s commitment to realizing the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, projected to contribute $4 billion to Dubai’s GDP. Additionally, it aims to support the creation of 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030 and attract 1,000 specialized companies in blockchain and metaverse technologies.
The DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme operates under the DIFC Metaverse Platform umbrella and attracted more than 160 applicants from the UAE, UK, US, India, and France. These applicants focused on metaverse, AI, web3, AR/VR, or blockchain sectors.
Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of the DIFC Innovation Hub, commented on the initiative, saying, “To see the DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme come to fruition as part of that initiative with over 160 international applicants and a network of over 60 ecosystem partners is encouraging. Not to mention the 10 talented start-ups graduating. They will no doubt inspire others to join us as we together embark on our next phase of growth.”
The Programme received support from partners including Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), DP World, and Daoverse Capital. These partners helped onboard the 10 promising startups in June 2023. These startups then underwent three months of intensive training through bootcamp workshops. The DIFC Metaverse Accelerator Programme benefits from a robust network of over 60 DIFC Innovation Hub ecosystem partners, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the metaverse’s development in the region.
