International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) Vol. 15, No. 2, April 2025, pp. 2211∼2223 ISSN: 2088-8708, DOI: 10.11591/ijece.v15i2.pp2211-2223 ❒ 2211 The role of disruptive technologies in the metaverse worlds: state of the art survey Jamal N. Al-Karaki 1,2 , Amjad Gawanmeh 3 , Ahmed Awad 4 , Natnael Zerai 1 1 College of College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2 Computer Engineering Department, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan 3 College of Engineering and IT, University of Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 4 Department of IT, Faculty of Engineering and IT, British University of Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Article Info Article history: Received Mar 11, 2024 Revised Nov 25, 2024 Accepted Dec 14, 2024 Keywords: Big data Big data analytics Healthcare Internet of things Personalised healthcare Point-of-care devices ABSTRACT The metaverse has emerged as an immersive and interactive virtual world that has the potential to revolutionize various industries. The use of disruptive tech- nologies, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), digital twin, internet of things (IoT), cloud, big data, and cybersecurity, has and will play a significant role in enhancing the capabilities of the metaverse. This paper provides a state- of-the-art survey on the role of disruptive technologies in the metaverse. The paper presents a taxonomy of the use of disruptive technologies in the metaverse and a comprehensive literature review on the application areas of the metaverse in education, healthcare, tourism, gaming, and smart cities. The paper com- pares the adoption of technologies in the metaverse and identifies current and future research directions. The paper contributes to understanding disruptive technologies’ potential in the metaverse. It provides insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to explore the opportunities and challenges of the metaverse. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license. Corresponding Author: Jamal N. Al-Karaki College of College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Zayed University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Computer Engineering Department, The Hashemite University Zarqa, Jordan Email: Jamal.Al-Karaki@zu.ac.ae 1. INTRODUCTION Coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel “Snow Crash,” the metaverse is a term describing a virtual universe without physical limitations, offering an immersive escape from real-life [1]. Recent techno- logical advancements, particularly in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), Blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI), have propelled the metaverse concept into popularity. Rooted in early virtual worlds like Sec- ond Life and World of Warcraft, the metaverse has evolved beyond these limited platforms. Today, it envisions a fully immersive universe across various devices, allowing seamless transitions between physical and virtual realms. Anticipated functionalities include socializing, business transactions, gaming, attending events, and earning a livelihood. metaverse’s evolution has been driven by several factors: advances in technology, chang- ing social norms, and the need for new forms of human interaction and collaboration. Technological advances As society increasingly digitizes, the metaverse is seen as a natural extension of our online lives, offering new opportunities for self-expression, community building, and economic growth. Journal homepage: http://ijece.iaescore.com