News
Bedu Has Built A Metaverse Of The UAE’s Planned Mars Trip
The simulation, known as Metaverse Project 2117, hopes to host 100 million users over the next 10 years.
Bedu, a Dubai-based start-up focused on metaverse projects, has unveiled a new virtual environment showcasing the UAE’s future space exploration plans, including the proposed mission to Mars.
The project relies heavily on blockchain technology and decentralized hosting to enable the company to deliver a high-quality virtual experience. The project is known as “2117”, after the UAE’s planned Mars 2117 initiative, which aims to create a habitable colony on the red planet known as the “Mars Scientific City”.
The Mars metropolis will have food laboratories and its own water, food and energy harvesting technologies, using 3D printing to help overcome some of the complexities of building in such a harsh environment.
Earlier this week, Bedu signed an agreement with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, which will assist Bedu in developing its unique metaverse, which will function like a real-life economy, with all the infrastructure and regulatory framework needed over the coming years.
“Mars is a destination aligned with [the UAE’s] vision and direction. Our focus is on creating a world where people can socialize, network, and live together without differentiating race, culture, and religion. […] As with any technology, it will impact multiple pillars, and the economic factor is one of the most important pillars,” says Amin Al Zarouni, chief executive of Bedu.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia To Send First Female Astronaut Into Space By 2023
The metaverse is part of the internet’s transition to Web3, which relies heavily on blockchain and decentralization while focusing on openness and greater user utility. The result is the ability to create entire 3D digital worlds, and the UAE, in particular, has taken significant steps to promote the technology, including the development of the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, which aims to create 40,000 jobs and pump $4 billion into the UAE’s economy over the next five years.
Despite rapid progress, Mr. Al Zarouni of Bedu is keen to point out that the metaverse is still in its early stages, but is estimated to hit the mainstream in the next 5-10 years.
News
Stake Powers Instant Payouts With Checkout.com Pay To Card
The new feature lets investors in the UAE, KSA, and UK receive real estate returns in minutes — cutting withdrawal times to under 10 minutes.
Stake, a leading digital real estate investment platform, has unveiled Pay to Card, a next-generation withdrawal feature built on Checkout.com’s global payment infrastructure. The integration enables investors to have dividends and returns credited directly to their bank cards — often within minutes — dramatically reducing the traditional multi-day payout process.
After a successful pilot in May involving over 200 users, some investors reported receiving their funds in under 10 minutes. Ricardo Brizido, CPTO and Co-Founder of Stake, emphasized the importance of speed and reliability: “With Pay to Card, we’re eliminating unnecessary delays and putting returns in our investors’ hands almost instantly. This feature was built to directly solve one of the most common pain points in real estate investing, and it’s already driving strong results”.
The feature launch coincides with rapid growth in real-time finance across the Middle East. Checkout.com’s “State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2025” report highlights a 388% year-on-year surge in Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) in the UAE, reflecting strong demand for immediate payout solutions. The same study recorded a 176% increase in total processing volume from 2023 to 2024 and noted that daily online transactions have jumped 320% since 2020.
Since its 2021 debut, Stake has facilitated over AED 1 billion in property transactions, advancing its mission to democratize real estate investment in high-growth markets. By integrating Pay to Card, Stake reinforces its commitment to customer-centric innovation and operational transparency.
Also Read: Binance Enters Syrian Market As Sanctions Lifted
Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, praised the collaboration: “Stake has always led with customer-first financial experiences. Together, we’re meeting the expectations of a region that is no longer just digital-first, but real-time-first. Pay to Card exemplifies how modern payment infrastructure can directly solve investor pain points”.
Pay to Card is now available to all Stake users in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. By slashing withdrawal times from days to minutes, Stake and Checkout.com are setting a new standard for seamless, on-demand real estate investing.
Stake Powers Instant Payouts With Checkout.com Pay To Card
Emirates And Etihad Soar In 2025 Global Airline Safety Ranking
Binance Enters Syrian Market As Sanctions Lifted
Yango Enhances Yasmina AI For Improved Conversations
Whish Money Launches Region’s First Cardless Shopify Checkout
MENA Among World’s Fastest-Growing Digital Economies
UAE Introduces Region’s First License For “Finfluencers”
UAE Fintech Qashio Raises $19.8M For Regional Expansion
Dubai’s PRYPCO Mint Is MENA’s First Tokenized Real Estate Project
