News
World’s Largest Metaverse Developer Opens Dubai Office
LandVault, the largest metaverse creator, is expanding its presence into the MENA region.
LandVault, the world’s largest metaverse developer, will expand operations to Dubai later this month as part of an ongoing strategy to boost its presence in the MENA region. The company aims to help local businesses gain a foothold in the expanding web 3.0 universe and sees exciting opportunities to bolster its client portfolio.
So far, metaverse developer LandVault has lived up to its name, creating and curating over 100 square feet of virtual space for a diverse range of organizations, including Mastercard, Standard Chartered, World of Women, Hershey’s, and many more.
The Dubai government’s Metaverse Strategy is one of the key reasons LandVault has been inspired to move to the region, as leaders plan to transform the Emirate into one of the world’s top 10 metaverse economies by 2030. Eventually, it’s hoped that in excess of 1,000 companies in the blockchain and web 3.0 spaces will be inspired to set up entities in the region, creating around 40,000 new jobs in the process.
Also Read: Best Music Streaming Services In The Middle East
“We are excited to open our office in Dubai and to be a part of the vibrant tech community in the UAE. The MENA region is a key market for us, and we believe that our presence in Dubai will allow us to assist the region and explore new opportunities. We are also excited about the potential for the metaverse in the real estate industry in the UAE. We look forward to working with developers and real estate companies to showcase their properties in a new and innovative way,” says Sam Huber, CEO of LandVault.
Alongside developing the metaverse from its new Dubai office, LandVault will also deploy its technology to assist the UAE’s real estate sector. Developers will soon be able to showcase their projects in a way that was never previously possible, reaching a much wider audience with immersive and interactive property tours and even virtual showrooms.
News
Meta Debuts Stand-Alone AI Assistant App To Rival ChatGPT
The dedicated AI assistant app taps into user data from its platforms to offer more personalized responses than ChatGPT or Claude.
Meta is entering the AI assistant race with a stand-alone app that puts its generative AI tool — Meta AI — directly in users’ hands, independent of WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, or Messenger. The app was officially unveiled at the company’s recent LlamaCon event and is clearly positioned as a direct competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.
What sets Meta’s AI app apart? The tech giant is banking on its existing ecosystem. Unlike newer players in the space, Meta already has years of user data across its platforms—from what you like to who you interact with. The company says this contextual advantage allows the AI to deliver more relevant, personalized responses by “drawing on information you’ve already chosen to share on Meta products”.
For now, this deeper personalization is only available in the U.S. and Canada, but it offers a preview of how AI assistants might evolve. Users can even feed the app additional personal details — like dietary restrictions or travel preferences — which Meta AI can then remember to tailor future suggestions. This could mean fewer mismatched recommendations and more practical support in day-to-day interactions.
However, the rollout also raises the usual data privacy concerns. Meta has built its empire on targeted advertising, and its AI product is no exception. The assistant’s effectiveness hinges on how much data users allow it to access — and how Meta uses that data behind the scenes remains a crucial question.
Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East
The app also includes a social twist. A new “Discover” feed lets users share how they’re interacting with the AI. In one example, someone asks the AI to describe them in emojis and then shares the result with friends. Sharing is optional, but the feed could amplify AI trends, from emoji summaries to stylized avatar transformations, echoing viral moments like the Barbie or Ghibli filters.
Still, not every feature may resonate. Meta’s decision to layer social sharing onto an AI assistant might feel unnecessary to some, especially as the market matures and users begin to seek more utility than novelty.
Whether the app becomes a serious rival to ChatGPT or just another experiment remains to be seen — but it’s clear Meta is determined to shape the future of personal AI with its own data-rich approach.
Meta Debuts Stand-Alone AI Assistant App To Rival ChatGPT
Meta And Startupbootcamp Launch MENA Agentic AI Drive
Snapchat Rolls Out Sponsored AI Lenses In UAE And KSA
Face Recognition Tech Rolls Out In Abu Dhabi Hotels
