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Dubai Introduces Its Metaverse Strategy
The aim of the initiative is to make Dubai the leader in the region and one of the top 10 cities globally in terms of metaverse economy.
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum seems to share Meta’s vision for the next generation of the internet because he has recently launched the Dubai Metaverse Strategy.
The aim of the initiative is to make Dubai the leader in the region and one of the top 10 cities globally in terms of metaverse economy by supporting 40,000 virtual jobs and 5x the number of blockchain and metaverse companies. By achieving these ambitious goals, Dubai could add $4 billion to its economy within the next 5 years.
“His Highness added that adopting new technologies will be a stepping stone in Dubai’s vision to use future technologies to create new work models in vital sectors and increase the metaverse’s impact on regional and global economies,” states an announcement published by the UAE official news agency WAM.
The Dubai Metaverse Strategy consists of three pillars. The first pillar is intended to foster metaverse innovation and economic contribution. The purpose of the second pillar is to cultivate metaverse talent through education and training. Finally, the third pillar is all about developing metaverse use-cases and applications at the government level.
The three pillars are supported by the adoption, scaling, and global advocation of safe platforms, in addition to infrastructure and regulation refinement.
Also Read: UAE To Punish Crypto Scammers With Fines & Jail Time
While certainly one of the most bullish proponents of the metaverse, Dubai isn’t the first city to introduce a cohesive strategy. Just last month, Chinese city Shanghai released a policy paper that outlines its strategy to cultivate a metaverse industry worth more than 350 billion yuan ($52 billion) by the end of 2025.
Globally, the metaverse market is projected to be worth around $1,607.12 billion by the end of the decade, according to Precedence Research. Do you think Dubai will see a return on this massive investment?
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
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