Investing in video games is more rewarding at the moment than Metaverse: Futurist-in-Chief at Dubai Future Foundation

Noah Raford was speaking at the Top CEO Forum
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Updated 19 May 2022
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Investing in video games is more rewarding at the moment than Metaverse: Futurist-in-Chief at Dubai Future Foundation

DUBAI: As the business world is increasingly fascinated by the Metaverse, Noah Raford, futurist-in-chief and chief of Global Affairs at Dubai Future Foundation, claimed that investing in this advanced technology is just a waste of time. 

While speaking at the Top CEO Forum, Raford argued that people should invest in video games, as it is the only successful digital economy so far. 

However, Fady Kassatly, partner of Enterprise Solutions and Cloud, KPMG, said the Metaverse is nothing but the next evolution, which will make people live differently. 

He also added the Metaverse is going to evolve quickly in different directions, and this is just the beginning of the journey. 

On his part, Philippe Blanchard, founder of Futurous, stated the Metaverse will change the relationship between humans and nature. 

Predicting an inevitable Metaverse future, Valerie Hawley, Director of Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence, said every business will look at the Metaverse space and consider using it in the coming years. 

She also added the Metaverse is a projection of the world that humans would like to live in. 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index climbs to 10,485 

Updated 21 December 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index climbs to 10,485 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index edged up on Sunday, gaining 34.32 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 10,484.59. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR2.59 billion ($690 million), with 168 listed stocks advancing and 87 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also gained 100.37 points to close at 23,454.65. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index advanced by 0.13 points to 1,377.44. 

The best-performing stock on the main market was Nama Chemicals Co., whose share price increased by 9.98 percent to SR22.38. 

The share price of Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co. rose by 9.15 percent to SR23.85. 

Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. also saw its stock price climb by 8.42 percent to SR57.95. 

Conversely, the share price of Canadian Medical Center Co. dropped by 6.37 percent to SR6.03. 

The stock price of Kingdom Holding Co. also declined by 3.16 percent to SR8.28. 

In the parallel market, Alfakhera for Mens Tailoring Co. was the top performer, with its share price advancing by 16.40 percent to SR8.80. 

On the announcements front, Theeb Rent a Car Co. said it had signed a long-term vehicle leasing services contract valued at SR110.4 million with Hungerstation Co. 

Under the deal, Theeb will lease 2,000 vehicles to HungerStation for a period of four years starting from 2026, according to a Tadawul statement. 

The statement added that the vehicles will be delivered in batches within the first six months from the contract start date, taking into consideration global logistical circumstances and procedures beyond the control of both the agents and the company. 

The contract is expected to have a positive impact on the company’s financials from the first quarter of 2026. 

The share price of Theeb Rent a Car Co. declined by 0.79 percent to SR37.80.