Meta-owned messaging application WhatsApp has recently launched its new ‘List’ service for users in the UAE. This feature is designed to help users better organize their chats, allowing them to create custom categories for their conversations.

On Friday morning, WhatsApp users in the UAE received a notification about the new feature. With the ‘List’ service, users can categorize their chats to make it easier to find important conversations. By tapping the + button on the filter bar located at the top of their chats, users can get started with organizing their conversations. The message from WhatsApp emphasized that this feature helps users prioritize their most important interactions, whether they involve family, friends, work, or neighbors.

Users have the capability to name their lists and select which conversations to include. They can add both group chats and one-on-one discussions to these lists. For those who create multiple lists, WhatsApp allows scrolling horizontally on the filter bar to access all their categories. This organization enables users to have dedicated lists for specific groups, such as family or work colleagues, which will then be displayed at the top of their inbox alongside options like “All,” “Unread,” and “Groups.” The company first introduced these features in early 2024.

The ‘List’ service was previously rolled out to users in the US in November of the previous year. Additionally, last year, WhatsApp introduced a simpler method for planning events through the app, although this feature has not yet reached the US market.

In a related development, Meta recently launched the ‘Meta AI’ feature for WhatsApp users in the UAE. CNBC reported a week ago that the company plans to launch a standalone Meta AI app in the second quarter of the year. This move is part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy to position Meta as a leader in artificial intelligence, aiming to surpass competitors like OpenAI and Alphabet, according to anonymous sources familiar with the project.

The Meta AI chatbot made its debut in September 2023, marketed as a generative AI-powered digital assistant capable of responding to queries and creating images based on user prompts. The company integrated Meta AI into its apps in April of the previous year, replacing the traditional search feature on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger with this chatbot functionality.