Though the metaverse is currently linked with arts, sportswear, real estate, and fashion retail, other businesses, such as healthcare, are making modest efforts to create a presence in the fast-developing virtual reality.
According to Sandra Helou, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Metapolis, if SaaS (software-as-a-service) emerges as the well-established business model to dominate the web2 space, the future transition to web3 will surely see comparable market potential for MaaS businesses. Helou disclosed that Metapolis has also offered to guide clients on the full spectrum of services – from conceptualization through metaverse implementation and development.
The Singapore-based firm Metapolis revealed its plans to establish its worldwide headquarters in Dubai as part of its ambitious plans in the UAE. Helou Metapolis claims that the company, which already conducts business in the US, Europe, and Asia, intends to increase its physical presence in other GCC nations, though a specific date is yet to be set.
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The Miami-based Metapolis, which bills itself as the world’s first “metaverse-as-a-service” (MaaS) venture – a la SaaS for web2 companies – is set to make an entry with its ambitious plans to support businesses from all industries in the virtual world. The UAE is poised to witness the next stage in metaverse development.
In order to assist all economic sectors in the UAE and the greater GCC area in developing new business insights and revenue streams as well as extending their customer and client interactions to the virtual world, the Metapolis MaaS platform will roll out an end-to-end service.
The metaverse is currently largely associated with arts, sportswear, real estate, and fashion retail, though more sectors, such as healthcare, are taking baby steps to make their presence in the fast-expanding virtual world.
“We are proud to be first-movers in this domain,” she said. As part of Metapolis’ aggressive plans in the UAE and the larger region, the US startup announced plans to set up its international headquarters in Dubai. Helou said the UAE – as also the GCC region – has been tremendously accommodating to the web3 community, and so the decision to set up an HQ in Dubai was very natural. “The networking opportunities [in the region] with government entities, other startups, and even large-scale multinational technology companies are huge. Our market research very much agrees with the general consensus that the UAE is the main hub for blockchain and web3 for the foreseeable future,” she said.
Helou said the metaverse is extremely malleable, and that is the reason it can be applied to so many different sectors and business models. “Our role is to facilitate this inclusion for these sectors by breaking down barriers to entry and being thought and action leaders in this domain,” she said. Helou said the company’s vision is to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds through seamless integration and an always-on layer of engagement.
“Metapolis has its sights set on becoming ‘The Next Internet’ and building a future for interoperability with security, safety, and digital identity at heart,” she said. Helou said Metapolis would guide clients on the entire range of services – from ideation to metaverse deployment and build.
