By
Andy Watson
April 26th, 2024
Cultural Universe is designed to showcase digital twins of the attractions and activities on offer during the IRL Founding Day, such as a History Walk that educates visitors on milestones in Saudi Arabia’s rich history.
The Saudi Ministry of Culture has joined forces with droppGroup and Oracle to unveil what it calls the Cultural Universe, a government-operated national metaverse initiative.
The virtual realm, which leverages droppGroup’s Generative Media Intelligence (GMI) AI system droppPhygital and Oracle’s Hyperledger Fabric 2.5 blockchain, was launched on February 22 to coincide with Saudi Arabia’s National Founding Day 2024.
A Middle Eastern Metaverse
Cultural Universe is designed to showcase digital twins of the attractions and activities on offer during the IRL Founding Day, such as a History Walk that educates visitors on milestones in Saudi Arabia’s rich history.
There are also immersive areas dedicated to the country’s music, art, history, and cuisine, plus multiple mini-video games and live feeds of the Founding Day Beginning Symphony, which featured Saudi poets and the National Orchestra.
While the Founding Day Microverse can be navigated using only a smartphone, it’s also optimized for VR headsets for those seeking a more memorable experience. The country’s Ministry of Culture has described the free-to-use Cultural Universe as a significant leap into the future of cultural expression and participation.
New York-based software development firm droppGroup has established itself as the go-to ‘phygital’ platform in the region, having also recently inked an agreement with state-owned energy giant Saudi Aramco to co-develop a range of Web3 technologies. The deal ties into the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, a roadmap for “economic diversification, global engagement, and enhanced quality of life.” droppGroup’s suite includes integrative AI, ML, XR, and metaverse solutions.
“droppGroup is honored to be leading this digital transformation with the Ministry of Culture,” said the company’s Co-Founder and President Christopher Kelly. “The vision required for such an initiative is rarely seen in government and we are delighted to be supporting the Ministry of Culture in this and future AI projects.”
Will State Metaverses Become the Norm?
Although the metaverse hype has died down somewhat since last year, many private enterprises are still working on crafting blockchain-powered 3D experiences that deliver value for users. Might the Saudi government’s foray into metaverse exploration motivate others to follow suit?
In fact, some governments are already pursuing their own solutions. Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last year that his government’s agenda would include support for the growth of Web3 companies, including those utilizing the metaverse and NFTs. The Dubai Metaverse Strategy, meanwhile, aims to turn the UAE city into one of the world’s leading metaverse economies.