As one of the most disruptive technologies of 2018 so far, HTC Vive—the global leader in Virtual Reality (VR) innovation and design—has set the stage for the next major revolution in premium VR applications by bringing more immersive experiences to enterprises and consumers across the Middle east during this week’s GITEX Technology Week 2018, the company confirmed the local availability of its much-anticipated Vive Wireless Adapter, while also spotlighting the open platforms necessary to allow companies in the region to discover and build VR content. Industry partners including Dubai Internet City also shed light on how VR use cases are expanding beyond gaming into applications in healthcare, education, government, retail and more.
The market for VR and AR technologies in the Middle East and Africa is expected to increase from a value of $181.59 million in 2017 to a staggering $6 billion in 2020, according to recent estimates from IDC.
Ramit Harisinghani, VP and head of Middle East & Africa at HTC Vive, said: “The future of virtual reality is happening now, with the convergence of new open platforms and technologies delivering unprecedented experiences for consumers, businesses and governments. The growth of VR in the coming years will come not only from a mass-market proposition but also with the development of applications from a larger base of developers. Building an ecosystem to test and build new VR concepts is essential, and it is very encouraging to see so many organizations across the region keen to get involved in this journey.”
Ammar Al Malik, Executive Director of Dubai Internet City, said: “Our enabling ecosystem brings together enterprises of all sizes and from a wide variety of technology fields to collectively drive progress in the region. The launch of the new HTC Vive Wireless Adapter is a testament to the advancements in the virtual reality arena and creates exciting opportunities for local content developers and for enterprises across a wide range of sectors, “
