Snap has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qatar’s Government Communications Office (GCO) to launch the first Augmented Reality (AR) Academy in the MENA region.
The agreement, announced at Web Summit Qatar 2025, marks a significant step in unlocking creative potential across the region and driving digital innovation.
The partnership with GCO for the first AR Academy will unlock new opportunities and empower the next generation of AR creators and developers.
This move also underscores Snap’s long-term commitment to investing in MENA’s digital ecosystem, by building AR capabilities for partners both old and new, which is critical to digital transformation agendas.
Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the GCO and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organizing Committee, said that, “Our partnership with Snap to launch the region’s first Augmented Reality Academy marks a strategic milestone in empowering digital talent and driving technological innovation.”
Sheikh Jassim further noted that, “This initiative aligns with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 in building a knowledge-based economy and nurturing the next generation of creators by equipping them with the essential tools and skills to navigate global digital transformations. Through our investment in such pioneering programs, we continue to strengthen Qatar’s position as a regional center for digital excellence and technological innovation.”
Hussein Freijeh GM – Snap Middle East
“We continue to bet on AR technology as we believe its potential is limitless. AR brings joy and utility to everyday life, enables brands to drive real business results, and empowers developers to push creative boundaries. The long-term success of the technology requires a vibrant developer and creator ecosystem, which is critical to the digital transformation taking place in the region. Once again we are honored to work hand in hand with GCO to drive the growth and digital upskilling of the thriving talent pool and we cannot wait to see the groundbreaking work they produce.”
AR on Snapchat
AR has played a pivotal role in visual communication for more than a decade, pioneered by Snapchat and widely loved by online communities and brands all over the world for its ability to elevate creativity, connection, and self-expression. From retail try-ons, and now Gen AI, Snapchat has evolved AR into a tool for human connection and spatial computing.
Today, over 300 million people use AR on Snapchat and more than 85 percent of MENA daily users interact with Lenses every day. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, more than 400 million Snapchatters engaged with Gen AI-powered Lenses over 4 billion times.
According to the statement, the developers and creators are central to the potential of this technology and Snap is committed to supporting this community through a variety of programs, opportunities, and tools to help them build experiences and grow their creative potential.
Currently, more than 375,000 AR creators, developers, and teams from nearly every country in the world have built over 4 million Lenses. Many of these are created using fifth-generation Snap Spectacles, which have capabilities to better build and experiment with AR, allowing users to interact with the world and each other in entirely new ways.
