Distinctive landmarks across the UAE have been recreated in the popular Minecraft online platform.
From the striking sail of Burj Al Arab hotel to the gold-topped domes of Sheikh Zayed Mosque, UAE landmarks have been built into video games that draw pupils into immersive experiences in subjects ranging from history to science and mathematics.
Ahmed Ashour, education director of Microsoft UAE, told The National: “This is still very new in the region. We have developed a whole UAE world with all the highlights like Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, The Palm Jumeirah, so pupils can go in here and also to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain and develop more elements around this.
“We know students will enjoy playing and want to learn more about where they live.
“With the Minecraft education edition, we are giving access to teachers to go within and create lessons within this interactive world.”
Millions of users around the world pile up blocks and zoom through retro graphics in the game owned by Microsoft.
They can build worlds, fight monsters or learn about the universe, human anatomy or biology.
The Minecraft education edition was adopted in the UAE more than three years ago as part of the curriculum in public schools under the Ministry of Education.
Users now have easily identifiable local signposts. They can learn how to build a rollercoaster under the striking red emblem of the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, walk around Sharjah University City or climb the Jebel Jais mountains.
Nayla Al Ali, a sixth-grade teacher in Abu Dhabi, said there was growing interest among pupils to explore the famous buildings.
“There are many challenges children take up like adding animals in a desert so they try to understand whether these animals will survive,” she said.
“Some want to know more about building a car that is energy efficient.
“Pupils have fun moving blocks and learn about how the Burj Khalifa was built.
“Every time they answer a question, they learn more information about this country so it gets very interesting.”
The UAE’s national landmarks were the first in the region to be added to the education edition.
Interactive graphics and videos can then draw pupils into other worlds filled with science laboratories.
“Learning is unlimited, there is science, maths, architecture and engineering,” Mr Ashour said.
“Today on the Minecraft website there are hundreds of lessons so if I want to learn about the structure of the eye, there is a science lesson already.
“So a teacher can invite pupils to take a walk within the eye.
“You open the eye, see the blood vessels and that’s something you cannot just do in a textbook.”
The online platform was also a success during Expo 2020 Dubai with more than a million downloads of Expo Minecraft that recreated the entire site from country pavilions to major attractions.
“We did Expo in Minecraft because it was just after the pandemic and we knew many people would not be able to visit,” Mr Ashour said. "But having that world meant children could go through it and see every country’s pavilion.
“It gave many access to the virtual world without having to fly here.
“These new buildings are the same, if a young child in another county hears about Dubai but has never seen it, this is a way for him to visit Dubai, the UAE and enjoy the architecture here.”
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
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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
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
