Put on your virtual reality headsets and enter a new dimension.
That is the message that Shaffra, a metaverse-as-a-service platform, has been trying to get across the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The start-up is focusing on how corporates and large entities such as government agencies can benefit from using the metaverse technology today.
It has its offices at the Dubai International Financial Centre Innovation Hub – the largest cluster of FinTech and innovation companies in the region.
Metaverse-as-a-service, or MaaS, can simply be described as an enterprise solution that will enable businesses to penetrate the metaverse with their own virtual worlds for various uses.
Shaffra’s 3D engine offers an affordable solution for government agencies and corporates to build their own virtual worlds, thereby simplifying the process of entering the metaverse for everyone.
With its immersive interface, Shaffra says its aim is to transform the traditional ways of engaging with customers in a virtual space.
Through the start-up's 3D technology, users can interact and collaborate with each other and with digital assets in real time.
“Our platform empowers organisations to deliver a more engaging and memorable experience for their customers, employees and partners,” says Alfred Manasseh, one of the three founders and Shaffra’s chief metaverse and operating officer.
With a customised metaverse platform, organisations can “reach new audiences”, he says.
They can also “increase engagement” as well as “offer new and exciting experiences” while scaling their business and keeping operations cost-effective.
The idea for Shaffra, which means “code” in Arabic, came about when one of Mr Manasseh’s customers from his side business – a legal advisory firm – was looking to get a crypto licence in the UAE.
“That’s when I reached out to my university friends of 20 years – we studied together in Canada – and we decided to create a crypto exchange,” says Mr Manasseh, 37, a Lebanese national
“But then we thought about how we were going to really differentiate ourselves from the other major crypto exchanges that are out there. At the time, it was mainly Binance and Coinbase, and there were a few local start-ups as well.”
They decided to use the different types of metaverse technology for businesses and corporates “because there is nothing really out there of the sort”, he says.
“The crypto exchange is still on our mind, but then it can become part of our overall or overarching solution. So at that point, we completely pivoted our start-up idea,” he adds.
The company was registered with the DIFC Innovation hub, which allowed it to seek investors.
As is the case with any start-up journey, the beginning was tough for Shaffra, too.
“I don't know how many VCs [venture capitalists] or how many investors we met. It was about the same time when there was a major crypto winter, a major crypto crash, so anything that was emerging tech and new, and anything that was related to the metaverse, was considered risky. We were getting turned down a lot,” says Mr Manasseh.
The company then started tapping into the ecosystem of the UAE government sector.
“There was the whole government initiative in terms of the Dubai Metaverse Strategy. And then, we started hearing about Abu Dhabi – what they’re doing in this domain,” says Mr Manasseh.
The metaverse can potentially contribute about $15 billion to GCC economies by 2030, with Dubai alone expected to generate $4 billion and create 40,000 new jobs within the next five years, according to PwC. Dubai launched its metaverse strategy in July 2022.
This growth is driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, rising demand for virtual events and conferences, and the growing popularity of gaming and social media, the consultancy says.
According to Gartner, by 2026 at least 25 per cent of people will spend a minimum of one hour every day in the metaverse for different purposes such as work, shopping, education and even entertainment.
In December last year, Shaffra managed to attract investment of $220,000 from an accelerator that is funded by regional start-up accelerator programme Flat6Labs Abu Dhabi, according to Mr Manasseh.
“That allowed us to start working on our MVP [minimum viable product],” he says.
In March, Shaffra won its first bid to build the metaverse for the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, following which, the company got a lot of interest from Saudi investors.
The company is now in the process of wrapping up its seed round, or pre-series A round, of funding of about $1.5 million.
It aims to close the round by the first quarter of 2024, and has set a valuation target of $100 million.
Omantel, the largest mobile operator in Oman, is other company in the region that Shaffra is working with.
“Investors in this region come with a vision, and that’s what I like about them,” Mr Manasseh says.
“Our pipeline is growing strongly, though when we first started, we understood that adoption is a big issue here in the region.
“The way we look at it is that the metaverse should really be an extension of the business’s operations. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel or recreate things that are already out there. We want to integrate whatever solution is out there and enhance the experience of the users.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Shaffra is initially focusing on governments and large corporates. With two customers in its fold, the company is in active negotiations with many more.
“By the end of this year, we would be having between seven and 10 active customers, ranging from different telecoms, different government departments and in the banking and events sector as well, Mr Manasseh says.
“Initially, those customers are going to enable us to build the features required for specific industries … The same goes for banks, for police departments, and for any kind of service-orientated industry.”
He says that the company, which works on a monthly subscription fee ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 a month, will start to become profitable and self-sustaining once it crosses the 10 client-mark.
Going ahead, Shaffra plans to launch its operations in Saudi Arabia. “We have very good traction in terms of sales pipeline in Saudi Arabia. The same goes for Oman,” Mr Manasseh says.
The company is also in the process of filing its patents in the US, he adds.
The next venture Shaffra plans to tap into is the gaming industry.
“What we focus on is ease of access. So, we built our engine to be used on many devices, be it on the web browser, on a VR headset, on a desktop or on a mobile application. Our USP [unique selling proposition] is flexibility of hosting,” says Mr Manasseh.
“No platform is truly as device agnostic as ours.”
Q&A with Alfred Manasseh co-founder and chief operating officer of Shaffra
What other successful start-up do you wish you had started?
I've always been fascinated by Tesla's vision and their dedication to sustainable energy. If I could have been a part of any other venture, Tesla would be a top pick. Their approach to integrating cutting-edge technology with sustainability truly resonates with me.
What is your next big dream to make happen?
My next significant ambition is to democratise global talent access and revolutionise the learning landscape through the metaverse and AI. I envision a world where geographical boundaries become irrelevant, and anyone, from any corner of the globe, can have access to top-tier education and skill development opportunities.
By integrating Shaffra's metaverse technology and advanced AI tools, we can create hyper-realistic, interactive and personalised learning environments. This not only makes education more immersive but also tailors the experience to individual learning styles and paces. My dream is to bridge the global knowledge gap, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location or background, has the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential.
What new skills have you learnt since launching Shaffra?
Launching Shaffra has been a transformative journey for me. Beyond enhancing my technical knowledge and understanding of the metaverse, I've learnt the importance of resilience, adaptability, and cultivating a customer-first mindset.
Every day brings new challenges, and going through the evolving metaverse landscape has tuned my skills in strategic planning and visionary thinking.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
If I had the chance to begin our journey with Shaffra anew, I would prioritise developing parallel solutions – one focusing on government-centric applications and the other on our Shaffra builder tool for democratising metaverse access.
Who is your role model?
Leonardo da Vinci. A polymath! He merged art, science, engineering, and imagination in ways no one had ever done. In many ways, the metaverse is our modern-day canvas, combining arts, science, and engineering in ways that are only limited by our own imagination.
Where do you want to be in five years?
In five years, I see Shaffra becoming the go-to platform for metaverse integrations across industries. Personally, I aim to be at the forefront of metaverse evolution, contributing to research, development, and building a global community around this technology.
What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to remain relentlessly curious and adaptable. The business landscape is dynamic and the only constant is change. Also, always remember why you started your journey; your passion and vision will serve as your guiding light during turbulent times.
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20has%20been%20moored%20off%20the%20Yemeni%20coast%20of%20Ras%20Issa%20since%201988.%3Cbr%3EThe%20Houthis%20have%20been%20blockading%20UN%20efforts%20to%20inspect%20and%20maintain%20the%20vessel%20since%202015%2C%20when%20the%20war%20between%20the%20group%20and%20the%20Yemen%20government%2C%20backed%20by%20the%20Saudi-led%20coalition%20began.%3Cbr%3ESince%20then%2C%20a%20handful%20of%20people%20acting%20as%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ae%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiw2OfUuKr4AhVBuKQKHTTzB7cQFnoECB4QAQ%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.thenationalnews.com%252Fworld%252Fmena%252Fyemen-s-floating-bomb-tanker-millions-kept-safe-by-skeleton-crew-1.1104713%26usg%3DAOvVaw0t9FPiRsx7zK7aEYgc65Ad%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Eskeleton%20crew%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20have%20performed%20rudimentary%20maintenance%20work%20to%20keep%20the%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20intact.%3Cbr%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20is%20connected%20to%20a%20pipeline%20from%20the%20oil-rich%20city%20of%20Marib%2C%20and%20was%20once%20a%20hub%20for%20the%20storage%20and%20export%20of%20crude%20oil.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%E2%80%99s%20environmental%20and%20humanitarian%20impact%20may%20extend%20well%20beyond%20Yemen%2C%20experts%20believe%2C%20into%20the%20surrounding%20waters%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Djibouti%20and%20Eritrea%2C%20impacting%20marine-life%20and%20vital%20infrastructure%20like%20desalination%20plans%20and%20fishing%20ports.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The%20specs
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
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Rating: 2.5/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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