Meta Platforms, Inc. and EssilorLuxottica introduced the Ray-Ban Meta glasses to the United Arab Emirates during an exclusive launch event on May 7 held at Gitano Beach Club. The collection offers the ability to take ultra high-quality photos and videos while keeping your hands free, listen to music with discreet open-ear speakers, and use built-in Meta AI to get answers to questions on the go. Ray-Ban Meta is available starting May 12 at all Ray-Ban stores and partner opticians in the UAE.
Guests such as Yusra Mardini, Joelle Mardinian, Omar Farooq, Pia Jauncey and Nora and Khalid had the opportunity to discover the future of wearable technology, with sounds by Sarah Hardan and DJ Pascal Moscheni ending the evening. Key features demoed were Ray-Ban Meta’s camera with an ultrawide 12 MP – which takes high-quality photos and immersive 1080p videos in portrait orientation, as well as Meta AI. The celebration marks the start of a month-long takeover at Gitano, designed to embody Ray-Ban’s timeless style in a city as rooted in culture as it is in the future. Running until June 5, guests will find signature pops of Ray-Ban red adorning the sun-beds of the vibrant beach club.
Diving more deeply into the key features of the Ray-Ban Meta collection: discreet open-ear speakers increase bass response and noise suppression, enhancing the overall audio quality – whether it’s for listening to a favorite album or reliving moments personally created. Each pair can be found with five built-in microphones to support seamless switching between music and calls, while still allowing the wearer to hear the ambient sound of their surroundings and stay attuned to the world around them. The livestreaming function allows content creators to broadcast their experiences and POV in real time, hands-free. It opens a new level of authenticity and relatability in the content that’s being created, sharing live from their eyes. The wearer can toggle between the glasses and phone camera to Instagram Live or Facebook Live for up to 30 minutes.
The Meta AI offering gives wearers the ability to use the voice prompt “Hey Meta” to dive deeper into a moment of creativity, get things done, such as local recommendations or playlist suggestions and control features on the glasses. Learn the history of a landmark as you walk by, translate a sign that’s in a different language, or get recipe suggestions based on what’s in your fridge, all using only your voice.
Live translation is also coming to the UAE later this Spring. If you’re traveling to a new country and need to ask for directions to the train station or you’re spending quality time with a family member and want to break the language barrier, you can hold seamless conversations across Spanish, French, Italian, and English—even when you’re on airplane mode if you’ve downloaded the language pack(s) in advance. The glasses also receive regular software updates, so the AI glasses continue to get smarter and more useful over time.
The Ray-Ban Meta collection features multiple styles, colors, and lens variations, giving consumers powerful technology without compromising aesthetics or comfort. They are available in Wayfarer and Wayfarer Large, the most recognizable frame and an icon since the 1950’s, along with the Ray-Ban, Skyler, a more inclusive and universal fitting design now available in: Shiny Chalky Grey. Built using the latest optical technology, the high-performance lenses come in a versatile range to match individual style and vision needs. Available in a full suite of prescription, sun, clear, polarized or Transitions®, all the lenses offer advanced clarity, comfort, and protection.
Starting at a suggested entry price starting at AED 1,330. The Ray-Ban Meta collection comes with a classic compact and portable charging case to keep the glasses powered. The collection notably features an improved companion app, Meta AI (iOS and Android), offering a seamless way to import, edit, and add special effects to content. The enhanced experience allows the wearer to easily share with friends or to any social app on their phone and pair multiple glasses to their phone, managing them in one place.