$1.92B
MENA-3 games market revenue
2023
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt combined, growing 7.8% year on year.
Niko Partners via GamesIndustry.bizThe market, as published
The GCC gaming market, in real numbers.
No estimates, no invented figures. Every number, company and date on this page is attributed to the organisation that published it — hover any tile to see the source.
GCC atlas
Six markets. Different conditions.
GCC / 01
UAE
Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah
Regional operating base, studios, publishers, events and ecosystem programmes.
Qualitative orientation only. Country-level indicators are published when sources and methodology are verified.
Opportunity matrix
Compare conditions, not scores.
A cautious comparison of visible ecosystem signals. Unsupported scoring is intentionally excluded.
| Market | Current lens | Relevant layers | Evidence state |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Connected base | Studios · publishing · regional operations | Established |
| Saudi Arabia | Large market programmes | Players · esports · investment | Accelerating |
| Qatar | Sport and media adjacency | Esports · events · technology | Emerging |
| Bahrain | Startup infrastructure | Technology · services · community | Emerging |
| Kuwait | Consumer demand | Players · publishing · community | Data being mapped |
| Oman | Creative ecosystem | Talent · community · technology | Data being mapped |
This matrix is qualitative orientation, not a ranking. “Established,” “Accelerating,” and “Emerging” describe the visibility of published ecosystem activity, not investment quality or commercial potential.
Sourced indicators
Where the money and the players are.
$2.65B
MENA-3 market forecast
2027 projection
The published forecast for the same three markets by 2027.
Niko Partners via GamesIndustry.biz$2.24B
GCC player spending
2023
Player spending across the Gulf Cooperation Council markets.
Niko Partners & Saudi Esports Federation350+
Gaming companies in Dubai
Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 update
Of which 260 are classified as specialised game developers.
Dubai Future Foundation$1B
Dubai gaming economic target
Programme launched Nov 2023
The economic contribution target set under Dubai Program for Gaming 2033.
Dubai Future FoundationTop 10
Dubai's stated global ambition
2033 horizon
The programme aims to place Dubai among the top 10 cities in the global gaming industry.
Dubai Future Foundation50+
Gaming companies at Yas Creative Hub
2023 snapshot
Abu Dhabi's creative hub community, including Unity and Ubisoft.
Zawya800+
Media businesses at twofour54
Current
The Abu Dhabi free-zone community that underpins AD Gaming.
twofour5421M+
Active gamers in Saudi Arabia
2023
The largest single player base in the region next door.
TASC Outsourcing$1.13B
Saudi Arabia games market revenue
2023
More than half of the MENA-3 total.
TASC Outsourcing / GamesIndustry.biz~$300B
Global industry benchmark cited by AD Gaming
2026 projection (from 2021)
The global market context Abu Dhabi's gaming strategy was built against.
Abu Dhabi Media Office5–10
Abu Dhabi gaming companies before AD Gaming
Four years before the case study
The starting point the emirate built its gaming ecosystem from.
Unity case studyMarket scale
Revenue and spending
Published market and player-spending figures for the region, in billions of US dollars.
MENA-3 market revenue (2023)$1.92B
MENA-3 forecast (2027)$2.65B
GCC player spending (2023)$2.24B
Saudi Arabia revenue (2023)$1.13B
Unit: US$ billions
Ecosystem density
Companies on the ground
Company counts published by Dubai Future Foundation, twofour54 and Unity.
Gaming companies in Dubai350+
Specialised developers in Dubai260
Companies at Yas Creative Hub50+
Abu Dhabi companies before AD Gaming5–10
Unit: number of companies
Who is already here
Companies with a UAE presence.
Ubisoft Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · Publisher & studio
AAA publisher's mobile development studio.
Opened in October 2011, among the first major game studios in the capital.
UbisoftMY.GAMES
Abu Dhabi · Publisher & studio
Global mobile, PC and console publisher.
Established a regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi with AD Gaming in May 2023.
Abu Dhabi Media OfficeUnity Technologies
Abu Dhabi · Platform & engine
Real-time development engine and platform.
Signed a ten-year alliance with twofour54 in 2020 to build a gaming centre of excellence.
Gulf NewsTencent Games
Dubai · Publisher & studio
Publishing, development and live operations.
Established its MENA regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City, announced June 2019.
Arab NewsGameloft
Dubai · Publisher & studio
Mobile game developer and publisher.
Runs its regional office from Barsha Heights, within a global network spanning 24+ countries.
GameCompaniesYalla Group
Dubai · Platform & engine
Social voice and casual gaming apps, including Yalla Ludo.
Dubai-headquartered and NYSE-listed (YALA).
Yalla GroupJawaker
UAE · Local studio
Publisher of Arab-culture card and board games.
Established in 2011 as a single app for widely played Arab cultural games.
JawakerGalaxy Racer
Dubai · Esports & media
Esports organisation and creator network.
Founded in 2019, with 100+ content creators in its network.
Galaxy RacerYaLLa Esports
Dubai · Esports & media
Esports media company and tournament organiser.
Established in 2016 in the UAE.
YaLLa EsportsCalyx
Dubai · Esports & media
Esports organiser and broadcast production.
Operating since 2014, producing tournaments across MENA.
CalyxGamer Majlis
Dubai · Esports & media
Regional esports tournament platform.
Founded in 2023 around titles including Valorant, PUBG Mobile and Dota 2.
Gamer MajlisESL FACEIT Group
Dubai · Esports & media
Global esports and entertainment company.
Runs Middle East & Africa leadership regionally and opened a Riyadh broadcast hub in May 2024.
Arab NewsFoxrito Studios
Dubai · Local studio
Indie game development studio.
Founded in 2015 by a team of Emirati developers.
Foxrito StudiosKAIF Games
Dubai · Local studio
Mobile studio building open-world multiplayer titles.
Independent studio with two live titles and 10M+ downloads.
KAIF GamesSolo Sigma
Dubai · Local studio
Full-cycle mobile, PC and Steam development.
Dubai-registered studio behind the multiplayer title Erdaria.
Solo SigmaPixelhunters
Dubai · Local studio
Game development, 3D animation and XR.
Founded in 2009 and describes itself as the UAE's first indie game development studio.
PixelhuntersWoneLight Technologies
Abu Dhabi · Local studio
Games studio.
Operates from the twofour54 creative hub.
WoneLightKashkool Games
Abu Dhabi · Local studio
Games studio.
Listed as a twofour54 community partner.
twofour54After Work Games
Abu Dhabi · Local studio
Games studio.
Registered twofour54 community partner in Abu Dhabi.
twofour54Games MEA
Dubai · Esports & media
Regional gaming media outlet.
Covers news, reviews and previews for gaming across the Middle East.
Games MEACompanies are listed from their own public information. Inclusion is not an endorsement, a partnership or a claim of any relationship with Riyada X9.
Government and authority initiatives
The programmes shaping the sector.
Dubai Program for Gaming 2033
Dubai Future Foundation
Dubai's long-term programme to grow the gaming sector across talent, content and technology.
Launched on 2 November 2023 with the aim of placing Dubai among the world's top 10 gaming cities.
Dubai Future FoundationGaming Residency
Dubai Program for Gaming
A residency route for gaming professionals relocating to Dubai.
Applications run through the official Dubai gaming portal.
Dubai Program for GamingAD Gaming
Abu Dhabi / twofour54
Abu Dhabi's gaming initiative across talent development, business attraction, and community and esports.
Launched in March 2021, bringing 15 new industry players to Yas Creative Hub.
Abu Dhabi Media OfficeAD Gaming × ASPIRE
Advanced Technology Research Council
A partnership targeting AI-driven game development in Abu Dhabi.
Signed to power AI-driven game development in the emirate.
Abu Dhabi Media Officetwofour54
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's media and entertainment free zone and creative hub.
Hosts a community of more than 800 media and entertainment businesses.
twofour54Savvy Games Group
Saudi Arabia (PIF)
Saudi Arabia's sovereign-backed games investment and growth company — regional context, not a UAE body.
Published its first public annual report covering 2023 and owns Scopely and ESL FACEIT Group.
Savvy Games GroupRiyada X9 is an independent connector and is not a government body, licensing authority or free zone. Requirements must be confirmed with the relevant authority.
Where to meet the market
The next confirmed dates.
Tokyo Game Show
Chiba, Japan · Makuhari Messe
17–21 September 2026
New Global Sport Conference
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Sofitel Riyadh
30 October – 1 November 2026
gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show
Bangkok, Thailand · Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
29 October – 1 November 2026
Africa Games Week / Games Industry Africa
Cape Town, South Africa · Workshop 17, V&A Waterfront
6–8 December 2026
GITEX GLOBAL
Dubai, UAE · Expo City Dubai
7–11 December 2026
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