In June this year, the UN celebrated the first "Virtual Worlds Day". On that day, the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds (GIVW) – Discovering The CitiVerse was announced. This collaborative effort between Digital Dubai, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) seeks to explore and harness the potential of next-generation virtual worlds to transform society, presenting new opportunities and complex challenges that demand the world's attention.
His Excellency Hamad Al Mansoori, Global Chair of the Executive Committee for the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds (GIVW) and Director General at Digital Dubai commented: "The metaverse1, a next-generation technology transforming social connections and digital experiences, can be a vital tool for advancing how humans connect, learn, shop, and play. Government entities can enhance public service delivery by integrating virtual worlds through the metaverse, driving the creation of sustainable, futuristic cities, globally."
