The MENA Games Industry Awards 2025 celebrated notable achievements in the regional gaming sector, with Tamatem winning multiple awards, including Game of the Year, and MJ Fahmi recognized as MENA Market Legend.

The Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025, part of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, took place on May 7 and 8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, attracting over 1,700 attendees, including more than 1,400 game professionals from 70 countries.

The event featured a high caliber of participants, with 32% being C-Level executives or founders and 68% senior managers, underscoring the significance of the gathering in the gaming industry.

Over 75 speakers participated in the summit, discussing critical topics such as artificial intelligence, web3 technology, user acquisition, and monetization strategies, aimed at fostering innovation and investment in the MENA games sector.

A highlight of the summit was the inaugural PitchPlay competition, which rewarded innovative startup concepts with a prize of AED 55,000, ultimately won by Martin Lothe Saeterdal's studio, Filiokus, for their engaging mobile gaming concept.

The Big Indie Zone showcased independent developers, allowing them to gain visibility for their projects, with 'Merge Empress' by Tiny Kraken Games winning the Audience Choice Award.

The summit facilitated extensive networking opportunities, organizing over 2,000 pre-scheduled meetings through the MeetToMatch platform.

Networking initiatives included the Connector SpeedMatch session for developers and investors, along with the Futura Advice Pitshop offering personalized legal and tax consultations tailored for the gaming industry.

Key speakers included H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini from the UAE Ministry of Economy and Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, acting CEO of Dubai SME, highlighting the event's importance.

Looking ahead, Steel Media plans to return for the next PG Connects event in May 2026, with additional events scheduled in Barcelona, Shanghai, Helsinki, and Aqaba in the interim.

Chris James, CEO of Steel Media, noted the summit's record attendance and the growing international interest in the MENA gaming market, reflecting the ambition in Dubai's gaming sector.