The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in partnership with droppGroup and Oracle, announced the launch of ‘Cultural Universe’, a government-run national metaverse initiative to explore Saudi culture and heritage. The initiative, based on droppPhygital, droppGroup’s Generative Media Intelligence (GMI) AI system, and Oracle’s Hyperledger Fabric 2.5 blockchain technology, was launched on February 22, coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s National Day in 2024.
Launched to coincide with National Day in 2024, the Cultural Universe platform offers users a digital exploration of Saudi Arabia’s rich history dating back to 1727, providing a digital counterpart to the ‘real-life’ celebrations of the day. Saudi music, art, history, food, crafts and mini video games sectors.
For example, you can explore Saudi cuisine ingredients and cooking methods in our cooking section. The game involves climbing a tree and collecting as many dates as possible within the given time. Points are awarded for the total number of days collected.
Additionally, the platform’s Performance Center will stream live events, including the Founding Day Beginning Symphony, making these cultural celebrations accessible to a wider audience.
Expanding accessibility to Saudi culture
Providing a digital twin of Saudi Arabia’s historical and cultural celebrations, Cultural Universe supports Vision 2030’s commitment to advancing technology and maintaining cultural values. droppGroup aims to make cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone by creating experiences that blend physical and digital elements by integrating cutting-edge technology into cultural storytelling.
The Cultural Universe will be accessible as a web-based experience compatible with Mobile XR, allowing users to explore the metaverse on a variety of devices, including VR headsets and desktops. This approach underlines the Ministry of Culture’s emphasis on inclusivity, enabling people from all over the world to discover and interact with Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage.
Moreover, during the Foundation Day event, users from all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, participated in the Metaverse event like never before, showing a noticeable change in cultural participation. The Saudi Ministry of Culture sees this as an important leap forward into a new era of cultural expression and activity.
Overall, the project aims not only at technological advancement but also at broader cultural change, seeking to build a global community that blends historical traditions with contemporary developments.