The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) has launched executive education forum titled The Metaverse and Government Applications bringing together more than 70 leaders from across the UAE and Dubai Governments.

Held on Wednesday, 19 October 2022, at the Dubai Future Accelerators Hall at Emirates Towers, the event forms part of MBRSG’s mission to train and empower government leaders in the UAE and the region, as well as to support the Emirates in its strategic directions and advance its position as a leader in implementing the most advanced technologies. 

The forum aims to introduce government leaders to the concept of the Metaverse and its connection to technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR). Attendees will also explore the most promising uses of the Metaverse, its future challenges, and its role in reshaping the global economy.

In addition to the participating government leaders, the event was attended by His Excellency Abdulla Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department and Chairman of MBRSG’s Board of Directors, and H.E. Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, MBRSG’s Executive President. 

“The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is working to embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai,” asserted H.E. Al Falasi. “We have made significant, concrete efforts that adhere to H.H.’s directives to keep up with all global developments – and particularly, promising technological breakthroughs that are set to reshape our future. We strive to make Dubai and the UAE a global hub for the application and development of these advanced technologies.”

“The new executive education forum on The Metaverse and Its Government Applications embodies our commitment in that regard,” H.E. Al Falasi added. “The event offers an opportunity for us to gather influential government leaders in Dubai and the UAE, enhance their knowledge about this nascent technology, and empower them to use it as a means to improve the economy and people’s lives in the years ahead. This compels us to immediately begin preparing for this stage and make sure that we continue to drive comprehensive development and maintain the competitiveness and prosperity of our economy.”

For his part, H.E. Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri said: “The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is constantly introducing participants in its programmes to the latest insight and expertise in key sectors, especially those with the potential to reshape the future of our planet. The Metaverse will, without a doubt, play a significant role in that regard, with possible applications of this technology in every aspect of our lives.”

“And government applications are no exception,” H.E. added. “They will also be inevitably transformed, and our role today is to develop advanced visions and strategies enabling government systems to utilise advanced Metaverse technologies in their operations.”

“Hosting the Metaverse and Government Applications forum reflects our commitment to keeping up with technological advancements around the world and reshaping our vision for the future,” Dr. Al Marri asserted. “We are delighted to be organising this event today, bringing prominent experts together in one platform to introduce participants to the Metaverse, underline its importance, risks, and the rules and controls needed to ensure ethics and governance. The forum offered attendees a real opportunity to delve into the virtual world of the Metaverse.”

The forum covered a range of topics, including the concept of the Metaverse, forecasting its future, highlighting the technologies that underpin it, and explaining the connection between the Metaverse, AR, and VR technologies. The discussions underlined the key requirements for building a Metaverse environment, and explored other topics, such as access and equality in the Metaverse, ethics and governance, and potential Metaverse applications in government services. 

The event featured renowned experts to lead the sessions, including H.E. Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri; Mr. Ahmed Al Am, expert in data science and innovative digital transformation; Mr. Saleh Al Hammouri, Development and Training Expert in Executive Education at MBRSG; Prof. Yousef Al Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology - Dubai; Mr. Bashar Kilani, Managing Director at Accenture Middle East, and Prof. Melodena Stephens, Professor of Innovation Management at MBRSG.