Exploring how the Metaverse Facilitates the Development of Entrepreneurial and Cross-Cultural Competencies in UAE Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter discusses the importance of the metaverse in developing cross-cultural and entrepreneurial capabilities within institutions of higher learning (HEIs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It examines the theoretical, pedagogical, and cross-cultural roles of the metaverse in human capital development and its alignment with the UAE’s national innovation policies, including the UAE Vision 2031 and the Dubai Metaverse Strategy. Additional topics in the chapter can be seen in experiential learning, cultural theories (Hofstede, GLOBE, Cultural Intelligence, and digital pedagogy (immersive learning). It describes how immersive learning platforms can combine to facilitate cross-cultural interaction, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills, training students to work in hybrid jobs and digitally mediated leadership positions. The chapter concludes with the challenges and opportunities of applying the metaverse, such as access issues, data ethics, cultural inclusion, and faculty engagement. It provides a case study of the EduVerse to demonstrate how immersive learning can be effectively integrated to develop entrepreneurial and cross-cultural management skills within HEIs. The chapter does not focus on the metaverse as a technological resource but as a pedagogical praxis that creates a gap between theory and embodied practice in education, both of which are future-ready.