Raphael Thys
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Economy has opened an office in the metaverse that will be accessible to everyone globally. The building in the metaverse is the exact replica of the Ministry of Economy in Abu Dhabi with the same services offered to visitors.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the country’s Minister of Economy, made the groundbreaking announcement at the Dubai Metaverse Assembly during a panel discussion with industry stakeholders. Al Marri noted that the latest development forms part of the UAE’s efforts to be a hub for Web 3 technology in the Gulf and the wider world.
Visitors to the virtual office of the Ministry of Economy can hold meetings and network with other visitors through their avatars, Al Marri stated. Furthermore, legally-binding agreements can be signed in the metaverse, and 24/7 customer care support can be accessed at the virtual office.
“Our digital address represents the full building of the ministry. Each floor can serve different purposes. A visitor will get a virtual ticket/token and a notification will be sent to our customer happiness center to let the visitor enter our office in the metaverse,” Al Marri said.
The virtual office will allow users to hear audio from customer service representatives instead of the usual two-dimensional interaction on the website. Al Marri stated that the metaverse is a step in the right direction for efficiency because a person with business with the Ministry “no longer has to come to the UAE to sign an agreement.”
The announcement ended with the unveiling of the office in the metaverse, including areas for conferences and hallways for personal interactions. The new virtual office will complement the other two offices that the Ministry currently operates in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE is marking its turf in the metaverse
The UAE is making significant strides in the metaverse, with local jurisdictions forging their own paths in the sector. Dubai’s government unveiled a metaverse masterplan in July with the lofty aims of creating 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030.
The metaverse plans are not an isolated affair as they align with the plans of regulators to make the country a digital asset hub. The development comes on the heels of a bevy of virtual currency service providers like Binance and FTX setting up offices in the country.
The UAE’s ambitious metaverse plans pitch it in direct competition with South Korea and China, whose governments have equally laid down grand ideas for virtual worlds.
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