Snap Inc. and Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar empower the next generation of AR talent at Web Summit Qatar 2025

Dedicated to empowering the next generation of Augmented Reality (AR) innovators, Snap Inc. teamed up with Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) to host an exclusive AR workshop for 50 Foundation year and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students at Web Summit Qatar. The workshop, titled 'Building a Snapchat Lens, Building Your Career,' provided students with a unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge from industry leaders, equipping them with the tools needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving AR landscape.
The session, led by Joseph Darko, Snap Inc.'s Global Head of AR Developer Relations, was designed to showcase both the creative and technical potential of AR technology. Augmented Reality is digitally overlaid onto the real world, which Snap believes is the healthiest, most compelling way to communicate. Over the years, Snap's AR technology has evolved significantly, transitioning from fun, playful lenses to a powerful tool for both personal expression and business innovation. Globally, Snapchat sees over 6 billion AR Lens plays every day on average, and in the MENA region, more than 85% of daily users interact with Lenses each day.
Committed to empowering the next generation, Snap taught students how to build their own Snapchat Lens, while also introducing them to practical strategies for succeeding in the AR developer community. Through its longstanding investments in AR, Snap is not only shaping the future of communication but empowering the next generation of developers in the region, aligning with the digital transformation agendas of the Middle East.
'Augmented Reality is the next frontier in human connection, and it was incredible to share the secrets to AR success with the talented students at VCUarts Qatar,' said Joseph Darko, Global Head of AR Developer Relations at Snap Inc. 'This workshop showcased how AR can amplify creativity, drive innovation across industries, and create tangible career opportunities for aspiring developers. At Snap, we're committed to building experiences that connect people and brands in authentic, meaningful ways, and we're proud to support talent in MENA – a region where we see enormous potential for AR to transform all sectors.'
The partnership between Snap and VCUarts Qatar underscores the importance of experiential learning and industry collaboration in preparing students for the future of work. Students who attended the workshop left with a deeper understanding of how AR is already reshaping industries like fashion, sports, tourism, culture and AI—sectors in which Snap is leading the charge in leveraging AR for branding and consumer engagement.
Lejla Niksic, Director of Strategic Engagement at VCUarts Qatar, said, 'This collaboration with Snap empowers our students to explore innovative technologies like AR, allowing them to bridge the gap between creativity and the rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensuring they are equipped to lead in a future driven by innovation.' Niksic further emphasized, 'For VCUarts Qatar, collaborating with Snap enhances our positioning as a key player in fostering cutting-edge creative practices that align with industry needs and technological advancements, ultimately preparing our students to thrive in a world where digital engagement is central to various design fields. The alignment of our shared commitment to creativity and innovation makes this partnership a natural fit, ensuring that our students not only gain valuable skills but also embody the forward-thinking and entrepreneurial spirit that both VCUarts Qatar and Snap strive to cultivate.'
Varvera Guljajeva, VCUarts Qatar Associate Professor of Kinetic Imaging, brought her entire class to the Snap workshop at Web Summit Qatar and expressed how meaningful it was for students to hear directly about new developments that they can explore and learn. According to Guljajeva, one of her students already has plans to incorporate Lenses into their current class project to make it more interactive.
As AR continues to redefine consumer experiences across industries, the MENA region is poised for an accelerated demand for skilled AR developers. By supporting initiatives like the VCU workshop, Snap is not only cultivating the next generation of AR creators, but empowering students to explore new, exciting career possibilities within the immersive world of Augmented Reality.

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Media Contact pr@ عربي آدز تنال اعتماد "الشريك المتقدم" من سناب شات، وترسّخ مكانتها في الريادة الإعلامية بمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة – يونيو 2025 — أعلنت شركة عربي آدز، الرائدة في مجال التكنولوجيا التسويقية، عن حصولها رسميًا على اعتماد "الشريك المتقدم" من منصة سناب شات، وهو من أعلى مستويات الشراكة التي تمنحها المنصة، ويعكس التزام الشركة العميق بتعزيز معايير التميز والابتكار في المنطقة. ويأتي هذا الإنجاز تتويجًا لاستثمار استراتيجي طويل الأمد في تطوير الكفاءات والمهارات، حيث أكمل أكثر من 40 من محترفي الإعلام في عربي آدز برامج الشهادات المتقدمة الخاصة بسناب شات، مما يعزز قدرة الفرق على تحويل المعرفة إلى تطبيقات عملية تؤدي إلى نتائج ملموسة. لا يقتصر تميز هذه الفرق على إتقان أدوات المنصة فحسب، بل يمتد إلى قدرتهم على بناء حملات إعلامية مؤثرة تحقق التواصل، التحويل، والقيمة المستدامة للعلامات التجارية. وتعمل عربي آدز مع علامات تجارية رائدة في قطاعات متنوعة تشمل الأزياء، التكنولوجيا المالية، النقل، والتجارة الإلكترونية، حيث طوّرت الشركة استراتيجيات إعلامية متكاملة تجمع بين فهم السوق المحلي والدقة في التنفيذ. ويُعد اعتماد "الشريك المتقدم" من سناب شات شهادة على هذا التميز، وعلى تقديم حملات عالية الأداء، وإبداعات مدروسة، وعمليات واعية للخصوصية، إلى جانب سجل قوي من النجاحات التي تمكّن العملاء من القيادة لا التبعية. قالت آية رياض، نائب الرئيس الأول لوكالة الإعلام في عربي آدز: "نحن لا نتعامل مع المنصات كمجرد قنوات، بل نراها فرصًا لبناء تواصل أكثر عمقًا وتأثيرًا. الحصول على اعتماد الشريك المتقدم من سناب شات ليس خط النهاية، بل هو منصة انطلاق جديدة تعكس التزامنا الدائم بتقديم الذكاء والدقة والإبداع كقيمة واحدة موحدة لعملائنا." ويتطلب الحصول على هذا الاعتماد تلبية معايير صارمة تشمل: أداء عالٍ في الحملات، معدل موافقة على الإعلانات يتجاوز 90%، فرق حاصلة على شهادات رسمية، وامتثال دقيق لمعايير الخصوصية والبيانات. كما يمنح هذا التصنيف عربي آدز وصولًا إلى أدوات حصرية، رؤى استراتيجية، ودعم إبداعي مباشر من فريق سناب شات، مما يعزز قدرة الشركة على تحقيق نتائج أكثر دقة وتأثيرًا لعلاماتها التجارية الشريكة. ومع استمرار سناب شات في إطلاق أدوات جديدة وتطوير قدراته، تحتل عربي آدز موقعًا فريدًا يتيح لها تحويل هذا الابتكار إلى قيمة حقيقية قابلة للقياس، ليس فقط عبر الوصول إلى الجمهور، بل عبر كسب انتباهه وبناء تفاعل مستدام معه. نبذة عن عربي آدز تأسست شركة عربي آدز في عام 2013 في دبي، وهي شركة تسويق مدفوعة بالتكنولوجيا، تتعاون مع علامات تجارية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا لتحقيق الأداء على نطاق واسع. وتقدم الشركة حلولًا متكاملة تشمل الإعلام، التسويق عبر المؤثرين، الإعلانات عبر منصات التجزئة، والتقنيات الإبداعية، مع التركيز على النمو المستدام المبني على التحليل والدقة وتحقيق النتائج. نبذة عن برنامج الشريك المتقدم من سناب شات يعترف برنامج الشريك المتقدم من سناب شات بالشركات والمنصات التي تثبت جدارتها في استخدام أدوات الإعلان الخاصة بالمنصة وتحقيق نتائج متفوقة بشكل مستمر. ويتطلب البرنامج فرقًا معتمدة، أداءً عاليًا، جودة إعلانية متميزة، وامتثالًا صارمًا لمعايير الخصوصية والبيانات، كما يوفر للمشاركين وصولًا حصريًا إلى موارد إبداعية، دعم استراتيجي، وأدوات متقدمة لتحقيق حملات إعلامية مؤثرة تحقق نتائج فعلية للأعمال. للتواصل الإعلامي 📧 pr@ 🌐 @areyad@ _Assigned to areyad@