News
Abu Dhabi Is Now Open For Virtual Tourists To Explore
Yas Island has recreated key landmarks and top-billed attractions within the leading gaming platform, Roblox.
Yas Island is ready to be discovered by a new global audience of digital travelers as it launches a unique virtual experience, allowing virtual tourists to digitally explore 25 square kilometers of Abu Dhabi’s premier entertainment and leisure district, plus other iconic Emirati landmarks.
The new initiative is part of a collaboration between the Department of Culture and Tourism, Aldar, Miral, twofour54, and Ethara.
The virtual Yas Island experience has been developed by Super League and is hosted on the leading gaming platform Roblox. Dubbed “Yas Island Tycoon – Roblox,” users will be able to take a thrilling journey through key Abu Dhabi landmarks across Yas Island and beyond, including SeaWorld, the Yas Marina Circuit, Etihad Park, Aldar Square, Al Jahili Fort, and many more.
As travelers wander the virtual destination and sample its attractions, they will experience theme park rides and race car driving, plus be able to construct virtual homes.
HE Saeed Al Fazari, Strategic Affairs Executive Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “This immersive adventure in the virtual realm is the latest example of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to utilizing innovation and creativity to reach ever wider audiences. While we have shared Abu Dhabi with millions of visitors in the real world, today marks the start of a new phase in our journey”.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Launches $200 Million High-Tech Investment Fund
Rashed Al Omaira, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldar Development, also noted: “The virtual Yas Island experience unlocks new opportunities for a global audience […] The effective use of innovative content creation enables us to tell the story of Abu Dhabi and allows people worldwide to become immersed in it. We are excited to see people interact with Aldar’s assets on Yas Island in the virtual world and hope it inspires them to take a trip to Abu Dhabi soon”.
You can visit the Yas Island virtual experience at Yas Island Tycoon – Roblox.
News
Popcorn AI Raises $500,000 For “Conversational eCommerce”
The firm’s AI platform uses specialized chatbots to handle entire eCommerce journeys, from recommending products to seamless payments.
Dubai-based Popcorn AI has announced the closure of a pre-seed funding round that raised $500,000 for its revolutionary AI platform. The investment, led by Spring Studios with the backing of Salica Investments, Al Waha Fund of Funds, and prominent angel investors from Saudi Arabia, represents a key step forward in reshaping customer-business interactions using the power of conversational AI.
Unlike traditional chatbot systems, Popcorn AI’s platform is designed to redefine eCommerce by creating highly intelligent sales agents that handle entire customer journeys, from personalized product recommendations right through to seamless payment acceptance — all through a conversational experience.
The clever idea was recently tested to great success when one of Popcorn AI’s chatbot agents closed a $400,000 real estate transaction, handling everything from the first inquiry to the final sale. Early adopters have reported a massive 90% reduction in customer acquisition costs, along with a highly impressive 20% improvement in conversion rates, highlighting the platform’s potential to transform customer engagement across dozens of industries.
Josh Rodger, Principal at the Spring Studios fund, expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “We are proud to support Popcorn AI’s mission to reshape how businesses connect with their customers. Their innovative approach to conversational commerce has the potential to revolutionize industries and redefine the way customers experience digital transactions”.
Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East
Meanwhile, Popcorn AI founder and CEO Yousef Al Arif declared: “The future of commerce is conversational,” adding, “Today’s consumers want shopping experiences that are instant, personalized, and effortless. We’re not building just another chatbot; we’re crafting intelligent commerce agents that understand context, recall customer preferences, and guide users through the entire shopping process, much like an expert salesperson would”.
Building upon a decade of experience scaling eCommerce and marketplace platforms across the MENA region, Al Arif has now achieved huge success with Popcorn AI, positioning the product at the cutting edge of AI-powered eCommerce. The platform has also made significant impacts in sectors such as real estate, and hospitality, signaling that conversational commerce is emerging as a powerful new model for digital businesses.
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