Nearly three quarters of executives in the UAE believe the metaverse will have a positive impact on their organisations, another sign of the growing interest in the emerging digital space, Accenture said in a new report.
The metaverse – seen as the next iteration of the World Wide Web – will be a “continuum” of rapidly emerging capabilities, use cases and technologies, redefining experiences in the virtual world, the Dublin-based professional services company said.
A further 42 per cent believe it will be a breakthrough or transformational.
“The next generation of the internet is unfolding and will drive a new wave of digital transformation far greater than we’ve seen to date,” Paul Daugherty, group chief executive of technology and chief technology officer of Accenture, said in the report.
“Our vision of the metaverse as a continuum challenges prevailing, narrower views and highlights why organisations must act today, or find themselves operating in worlds designed by, and for, someone else.”
The metaverse is being touted as the next evolution of the internet and is defined as a digital space where participants, represented by three-dimensional avatars or digital representations, can move and interact in virtual worlds.
The global metaverse industry was valued at $47.69 billion in 2020 and is projected to hit $828.95bn in 2028, growing at a compound annual rate of 43.3 per cent, according to Emergen Research.
Metaverse activity in the UAE is growing. Dubai Municipality, at last month's World Government Summit, said it will create a digital twin city of the emirate in a virtual world, called One Human Reality. Sharjah, meanwhile, held its first non-fungible token art exhibition at House of Wisdom in March.
Gartner analyst Anushree Verma told The National the metaverse will evolve across three overlapping phases, emerging, advanced and mature, within the next 4 to 8 years.
The Accenture report also touched on the online behaviour of consumers, finding 70 per cent of those surveyed are spending substantially more time online.
The figure is higher in the UAE at 84 per cent, compared to levels seen before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.
This rise is reflected in the shift in consumer behaviour in the Emirates. In recent studies, global payments company Visa said Covid-19 permanently changed their shopping habits, while online financial aggregator Policybazzar.ae said two thirds now prefer the use of contactless payment.
The holy month of Ramadan, in particular, is influencing online spending. Meta Platforms – the owner of the world’s biggest social media network, Facebook – said in a March report that UAE consumers are increasingly open to trying out new products from overseas.
From a broader perspective, consumers in the Middle East and North Africa region are projected to spend around $6.2bn on online purchases during Ramadan as their average time online has risen by 12 per cent, consultancy RedSeer said.
The Accenture study also identified a number of key trends that companies need to address now that we are at the doorstep of the metaverse.
With the metaverse and Web3 poised to reshape the internet, 97 per cent of UAE executives, and 95 per cent globally, believe future digital platforms need to offer unified experiences, enabling interoperability of customers’ data across different platforms and spaces.
In relation to this, 100 per cent of UAE executives said leading organisations will push the boundaries of the virtual world to make it more real. The global figure was at 92 per cent.
Security and authenticity, one of the major concerns on the metaverse, will also require attention. Around 98 per cent of those in the UAE and 96 per cent globally said their organisations are committed to authenticating the origin of their data and genuine use of artificial intelligence.
Also, 90 per cent of UAE executives and 94 per cent worldwide agree their organisation’s long-term success will depend on next-generation computing technologies they would leverage to solve problems that cannot be addressed by classical computing.
Mr Daugherty said the actions and choices executives make today – addressing issues like trust, sustainability, personal safety, privacy, responsible access, diversity and more – will set the stage for the future.
“As the line between people’s physical and digital lives further blurs, organisations have the opportunity and obligation now to build a responsible metaverse,” he said.
Accenture – which operates its own metaverse, the Nth floor – polled more than 4,600 business and technology leaders across 23 industries in 35 countries for the survey. This fiscal year, the company expects to hire 150,000 or more to work in the metaverse on their first day.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
GROUPS
Group Gustavo Kuerten
Novak Djokovic (x1)
Alexander Zverev (x3)
Marin Cilic (x5)
John Isner (x8)
Group Lleyton Hewitt
Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
India Test squad
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Naga
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE Tour 2020
Stage 1: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam, 168km
Stage 3: Al Qudra Cycle Track - Jebel Hafeet, 184km
Stage 4: Zabeel Park - Dubai City Walk, 173km
Stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet, 162km
Stage 6: Al Ruwais - Al Mirfa, 158km
Stage 7: Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 127km
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying
Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
