People in any part of the world will now be able to experience the wonders and joys of Yas Island destinations even before they travel to the UAE capital.
They will be able to explore the many offerings at the island on leading metaverse platforms after a coalition of key Abu Dhabi entities came together to take Yas Island into the metaverse.
The entities involved in the project – which is the first phase in placing Abu Dhabi in the virtual world – are the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Aldar, Miral, twofour54, Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, Flash Entertainment and Yas Island.
The virtual experiences conceptualised by these businesses will enable users to gather, socialise, play, create, and transact. From building and purchasing digital homes, to discovering cultural attractions, to enjoying theme park adventures, special events, premier golf courses, and a world-class motorsport racing circuit, individuals will be able to experience all that Yas Island has to offer in a digital-first journey. Customisable avatars and surprise rewards will be part of every user’s personalised adventure.
Currently in the development phase, the island is being recreated using multiple world-leading metaverse platforms, including The Sandbox and Roblox, and is powered by Super League Gaming, a global leader in metaverse gaming and experiences. Once completed in Q1 2023, the Yas Island Metaverse will be operational and fully available to digital visitors.
Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “With the Yas Island Metaverse, we are inviting the world to experience the excitement of Abu Dhabi’s incredible leisure and entertainment destination – virtually – like never before. As the emirate’s offerings evolve, this project provides a new and compelling perspective that allows the world to discover Abu Dhabi in its own time and space.
“The innovative, interactive platform is perfect for highlighting the exceptional lifestyle, cultural and entertainment experiences that Abu Dhabi presents to all visitors and will give both virtual residents and travellers the power to curate their own unique Abu Dhabi itinerary.”
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer at Aldar, added: “Aldar is proud to be part of an ecosystem of partners on Yas Island that have played their part in developing the island into the iconic global destination it is today. The metaverse project is the next evolution of Yas Island and presents a unique and exciting proposition for each partner to seek new ways to deliver world-class experiences to digital explorers around the world. Through this project, we are firmly placing Yas Island and Abu Dhabi on the global metaverse map.”
James Hartt, Director of Strategic Partnerships at AD Gaming, said the metaverse gives his company an opportunity to bring high-quality gaming and esports content to global audiences.
“Metaverses also bring a host of opportunities to gamify areas such as education in a truly immersive way, resulting in a significant positive social impact for the community. As we continue the exponential growth of Abu Dhabi’s gaming and esports sectors, AD Gaming is proud to be supporting DCT Abu Dhabi and its partners in the creation and success of the Yas Island Metaverse,” Hartt added.
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