News

Virtuzone Plans To Build V-Shaped Metaverse Skyscraper

The tower would offer a business ecosystem for freelancers, digital nomads, remote employees, and budding entrepreneurs.

Published

4 years ago

September 14, 2022

Nour Nasir

virtuzone plans to build v-shaped metaverse skyscraper

Not content with creating “Mr. Musky”, the world’s first metaverse salesperson, the UAE’s tech startup scene is aiming even higher, with plans to erect an entire office tower inside of the digital universe. The project will be managed and executed by Virtuzone, in collaboration with pax.world.

It will function in much the same way as a traditional brick-and-mortar building, serving the freelance and digital nomad economy and acting as a virtual office and meeting space.

The tower is simply called “The V” and it will offer a fully interactive ecosystem complete with video conferencing, event spaces, and other function rooms, as well as metaverse avatars and a comprehensive suite of communication tools.

The idea behind the project is to incorporate real services and solutions into a completely digital space, enabling seamless communication and networking, plus solutions for accounting and auditing. The tower will even act as a hub for establishing highly tax-efficient legal entities and help businesses utilize legal decentralized autonomous organization structures (DAOs) while pairing with real-world offices and mailing addresses.

virtuzone partnership with pax.world to build v-shaped metaverse skyscraper

“It is our vision as a company to be at the helm of creating a borderless business environment, where geographical boundaries do not exist, and entrepreneurs from all over the world enjoy the freedom to do business and transact with one another in a secure environment,” says George Hojeige, CEO of Virtuzone.

Also Read: Intel And Broadcom Show Off Super-Fast Wi-Fi 7 Technology

Millions of digital nomads and freelancers from around the globe will be drawn to the V tower, which will serve as a metaverse headquarters. The building will also bolster the UAE’s digital economy, attracting investors and helping to shape the region’s continual digital development.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.