Meta Launches MENA Region’s First Metaverse Academy in Saudi Arabia

Meta has established the first Metaverse Academy for the Middle East and North Africa region, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The aim is to boost the growth of this emerging technology, The National shared. The news was first announced by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and IT during the Leap technology exhibition in Riyadh.

From May, the academy will provide training to 1,000 individuals for 18 months focused on shaping the metaverse ecosystem. The programs offered at the academy will include extended reality and education on technology. Upon graduation, individuals will have the skills to pursue careers in the metaverse and related fields.

“The Middle East and North Africa region has all the assets to become an essential player in the development of the metaverse and embrace the benefits it will bring to the economy,”

said Kojo Boakye, Meta’s VP of public policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey.

Boakye added that the demand for metaverse-related skills in the business world is already high. The academy is dedicated to working with educational institutions and policymakers in the region to support the growth of the ecosystem and train the next generation of metaverse builders.

The Metaverse Academy consists of three tracks. The first one is a workshop, an introduction to the metaverse. The second track is an online training program focused on improving skills in creating augmented reality effects. The third is a professional training program offering entry-level job opportunities in immersive technologies. The program, which aims to have at least 30% of women among its participants, is open to all, regardless of educational background.

The establishment of the academy in Saudi Arabia bodes well for the region as the kingdom, along with the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, have implemented regulations and initiatives promoting the adoption of Web3 technologies.

The leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance also offers free courses to everyone interested in crypto, blockchain, NFTs, and the metaverse. Last month, Binance launched a Metaverse Study Week that would reward students upon course completion.