International Gaming Icons Converge in Dubai for 2025 GameExpo Summit: A Platform for Innovation and Financial Backing in the Gaming Industry
The Dubai World Trade Centre played host to the GameExpo Summit 2025 earlier this week, marking the beginning of the four-day Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF). This year's event saw the participation of over 1,500 professionals from the global gaming industry, with the summit serving as a significant platform for networking, innovation, and strategic dialogue.
Held from 7-8 May, the GameExpo Summit returned as part of the DEF’s fourth edition and was powered by Pocket Gamer Connects in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Organized by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), the summit aims to position Dubai as a central hub in the MENA region's rapidly expanding gaming economy.
The summit brings together developers, publishers, investors, and tech innovators under one roof, providing a vital platform to discuss a range of topics. This year's agenda includes discussions on AI, web3, metaverse technology, user acquisition strategies, monetisation models, and game publishing trends.
Notable leaders from the global gaming industry are headlining the event, leading discussions across nine themed tracks. The Investment Summit, a new addition this year, will shine a spotlight on emerging investment opportunities in gaming. The programme features expert panels on market growth, funding strategies, and the advantages of investing in Dubai’s flourishing digital sector.
PitchPlay, another fresh feature, is an investment-focused contest hosted with DMCC. It offers game entrepreneurs and startups a chance to win prizes worth AED 55,000, including a DMCC Gaming Centre Package and promotional support.
The Very Big Indie Pitch and Connector SpeedMatch sessions, returning favourites at the summit, provide developers with fast-track access to investors and publishers. Meanwhile, the Futura Advice Pitstop offers one-on-one consultations with legal and tax specialists, underscoring the summit’s comprehensive approach to empowering the gaming ecosystem.
The Dubai Esports and Games Festival, now in its fourth edition, is the largest and most ambitious gaming and esports event in the region, spanning 17 days with over 45,000 attendees on-site and engaging 3.8 million gamers online across more than 90 tournaments. Popular esports titles included Valorant, Fortnite, EA FC 25, Yalla Ludo, and Tekken 8, with various tournaments being streamed live.
The festival features a mixture of competitions, exhibitions, educational programs, and business networking, with Dubai aiming to establish itself as a major player in the global gaming and digital innovation scene.
- The GameExpo Summit, in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), aims to position Dubai as a central hub in the MENA region's rapidly expanding gaming economy.
- This year's agenda includes discussions on AI, web3, metaverse technology, game publishing trends, and monetisation models, attracting tech innovators and investors.
- The Investment Summit, a new addition this year, will highlight emerging investment opportunities in gaming, offering education on market growth, funding strategies, and the benefits of investing in Dubai’s thriving digital sector.
- PitchPlay, a contest hosted with DMCC, offers game entrepreneurs and startups a chance to win prizes worth AED 55,000, including a DMCC Gaming Centre Package and promotional support.
- The Dubai Esports and Games Festival, spanning 17 days, engages over 3.8 million gamers online and aims to establish Dubai as a major player in the global gaming and digital innovation scene.
