Meta has officially launched its AI assistant, Meta AI, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This expansion brings the power of AI to millions of users across the region, offering tools for learning, creation, and connection within Meta’s family of apps. The rollout is underway, with full access already available in key markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Iraq.
Meta AI is designed for seamless integration across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Accessible through a distinctive blue circle icon, the assistant requires no separate registration. A particularly useful feature allows users to engage Meta AI within group chats by simply typing “@Meta AI.” This makes it a convenient tool for collaborative tasks like research, brainstorming, and planning. The example provided by Meta illustrates this functionality: users planning a trip can ask Meta AI for destination suggestions within a specific flight time, receiving real-time recommendations to discuss as a group.
Underpinning Meta AI is Llama 3.2, Meta’s largest and most advanced open-source large language model. This technology enables the AI to generate text and create and animate images directly within Meta apps. The “Imagine” feature allows users to create images by typing “Imagine” followed by a detailed description. The example given is “Imagine a tiger wearing a vest drinking tea at a café,” which prompts Meta AI to generate and even animate the described scene. A significant aspect of the MENA launch is the inclusion of Arabic language support, broadening accessibility across the region.
Fares Akkad, Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa at Meta, emphasized the accessibility and advanced technology of Meta AI, describing it as a “gateway to a smarter, more connected life.” He expressed confidence in Meta AI’s potential to become a leading AI assistant, highlighting its current user base and global reach.
To coincide with the MENA launch, Meta is introducing “Elevating Every Moment,” a content series aimed at showcasing the capabilities of Meta AI. This series will include collaborations with regional creators on Instagram, demonstrating practical use cases and providing helpful tips. Meta will also offer an educational series on its Meta Arabia page, focusing on effective prompt engineering to maximize the AI’s utility in daily tasks, both professional and personal.
Akkad noted the diverse ways people are already using Meta AI, from in-depth project research to guidance on tasks like art projects, home decor, and fashion inspiration. He specifically mentioned the popularity of image generation and expressed excitement about seeing how MENA users will creatively leverage the AI’s potential.
Meta AI is designed for intuitive interaction, offering a wide range of possibilities for enhancing daily life. Looking ahead, Meta plans to introduce more advanced multimodal features, including simultaneous dubbing for Reels, real-life image editing, and the “Imagine Me” feature for personalized portrait generation and editing. The integration of tools to assist with caption creation is also planned, aiming to simplify creative expression and connection.
Meta reports that Meta AI is on track to become the world’s most-used AI assistant by the end of the year, citing nearly 700 million monthly active users and availability in 42 countries and 13 languages. This expansion into the MENA region marks a significant step in that direction.
