In a significant global collaboration, Digital Dubai, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) have announced the launch of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds (GIVW), titled "Discovering The CitiVerse." The announcement coincides with the inaugural UN Virtual Worlds Day, held at ITU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The GIVW aims to explore the potential and address the challenges of next-generation virtual worlds, including the CitiVerse concept. This initiative seeks to harness virtual worlds' positive impacts on urban planning, tourism, and education, thereby improving decision-making and enriching urban living globally.

GIVW Objectives:

The initiative establishes a global platform to advocate for open, interoperable, and innovative virtual worlds prioritizing safety and user trust. By leveraging the expertise of ITU Study Groups, particularly ITU-T Study Group 20 “IoT and Smart Cities & Communities,” and the UN’s “United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC)” initiative, GIVW focuses on three key objectives:

1. Developing frameworks addressing principles, enablers, and governance for metaverse solutions.
2. Providing training and hosting events to disseminate knowledge and share best practices among cities worldwide.
3. Offering a sandbox environment to test and experiment with virtual world scenarios.

Key Statements:

H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Global Chair of the GIVW Executive Committee, emphasized the importance of anticipating technological advancements and enhancing global cooperation in digital transformation. He noted that cities are incubators of innovation, and initiatives like "Discovering The CitiVerse" exemplify proactive global approaches benefiting everyone.

H.E. Younus Al Nasser, Chief Executive of the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, highlighted the initiative as a collaborative effort to adopt emerging technologies and build a network of interoperable virtual worlds.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin expressed gratitude for the support from Digital Dubai and UNICC, emphasizing the initiative's role in fostering international standards and collaboration.

UNICC Director Sameer Chauhan noted the initiative's potential to explore metaverse solutions that better meet citizens' needs, enhance public service delivery, and optimize resource use.

Key Pillars:

The GIVW operates under three key pillars:

1. Bringing Virtual Worlds to Life:

   • Developing strategic guidance and governance frameworks.
   • Ensuring security and trust in virtual environments.
   • Raising public awareness.
   • Evaluating and assessing virtual world solutions.

2. Connecting Cities with the Virtual and Real Worlds:

   • Integrating emerging technologies.
   • Identifying practical use cases.
   • Providing a sandbox experiment facility.
   • Creating an educational toolkit.
   • Offering annual training for cities.

3. Tunneling the CitiVerse:

   • Establishing a Global CitiVerse Network.
   • Encouraging innovation through the CitiVerse Challenge.
   • Fostering talent development via a grants program.
   • Hosting an annual assembly for knowledge sharing.

The initiative's Executive Committee includes prominent figures from various sectors and regions, highlighting the collaborative and inclusive approach of GIVW.