Gaming Ecosystem in Dubai: What You Need to Know

• By Warren Allenn
• 12-01-2023
• Technology

As the world embraces new changes and continuously moves towards being more technology-driven, businesses should adapt accordingly and see what kind of role they can play in a wider ecosystem. A lot of entrepreneurs might overlook this opportunity but the fact is that the Middle East is known as the ideal hub for technology and video games in particular.

We have seen unprecedented growth in the past two decades in the region and all GCC states have a robust gaming culture where competitions are held and entire communities exist. In numbers, over 70% of women and 74% of men in the UAE are hooked on mobile games. A mobile app developer Dubai once concluded mobile gaming is popular among the masses and outranks console and PC games (they also have a reasonable share).

Dubai and the rest of the GCC region is going through societal and cultural changes and is actively embracing different technologies involved in the gaming ecosystem these days. If you are looking to develop a game in Dubai or anywhere across the region, keep reading as we discuss gaming trends in Dubai and the wider Gulf.

The Role of eSports in the Gulf

The UAE along with the rest of the GCC is committed to fostering a community where everyone can come together and collectively work towards creating something bigger, innovative, and better. The goal is to come up with ideas through collaboration. And governments across the GCC are involved in the ecosystem and are essential stakeholders.

In fact – an event was held in Dubai titled as Gov Games 2021 and the goal was to empower everyone involved in the development of the UAE through sports. The purpose of the event was to show a token of appreciation and a gesture toward being more connected and embracing new changes.

And since then, there are eSports festivals happening all year round throughout the country. Keep a lookout for any event happing nearby. The eSports industry in the UAE generated total revenue of $8.2 billion dollars in 2021 and moving forward, we predict that the numbers will increase exponentially.

Trends for the Upcoming Decade

And globally, with digital transformation in place, and new trends rising far too often, there is a lot in store and while you research for your gaming project, implement what works for you. We have highlighted a few trends that have the potential to cause disruption in the coming decade.

5G and cloud gaming

5G has a bigger role in the gaming industry than you might expect and cloud-based services are heavily dependent on a stable 5G internet connection. Gaming giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Tencent, Sony, and even Google have fully embraced the potential of cloud gaming. And there are different kinds of digital products out there designed to enable more people to get into gaming.

Once cloud gaming picks up enough popularity and gets recognition, it can eliminate the need to buy expensive hardware and equipment as everything is fully digital. Ultimately, it will lead to more people signing up on gaming platforms.

And Dubai is fully-prepared. Consumers in the UAE use 5G more often than Wi-fi or any kind of network. By 2025, Dubai aims to be more interconnected through 5G than ever before.

Augmented reality

It was back in 2016 when Pokémon Go was one of the first games that was fully dependent on AR technology and apart from the cultural impact, in terms of revenue – the game was incredibly successful. Pokémon Go generated a revenue of $1.21 billion in 2021 alone.
And over the years, from a software development company in Dubai to ordinary consumers – everyone understands the potential of AR technology and how it helps enable better experiences. A revolutionary step in the gaming industry, through augmented reality, the gameplay is more immersive and interactive.

The metaverse

While everything moves virtual and the metaverse joins every other conversation happening, we have to acknowledge that gaming maps are always more or less designed as the metaverse. The portrayal and the idea are the same.

The fact that open-world games like Roblox and Fortnite have existed for so long and have been successful showcases that consumers would be willing to join virtual spaces in a more immersive way. Here are a few noteworthy metaverse games that have the potential to stand out in the coming years:

• Sandbox
• Krysopia
• Farmers World
• Axie Infinity

Final Thoughts

We suggest you research well and stay updated with how the gaming ecosystem designed by game app development company UAE is evolving in Dubai and beyond. It is safe to say that there will be constant changes and we will see a lot of companies come and lead the pathway. Connect with the right organizations and network appropriately while you figure out how to initiate your next big project.