The Dubai esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be a celebration of one of the most lucrative industries in the world. The event, which runs from April 25 to May 11, features four distinct areas designed to showcase the best elements of the global gaming sector.
GameExpo – A Playground for Every Gamer
GameExpo is the main attraction of the entire event. It runs from May 9-11 at the Zabeel Halls 2 and 3 of the magnificent Dubai World Trade Centre. Gamers, developers, families, techies, gaming enthusiasts and more will gather under one roof for what will be an enthralling showcase. This section of the event will also attract massive interest from the betting industry. Wagering on eSports competitions has become a fervent part of the ecosystem. Many UAE betting sites will be offering a wide range of odds on a series of events which will garner a huge in-person and online audience.
All the focus will be on the Main Arena, where the battles between competitive gamers will spark a flurry of activity on online sportsbooks. Away from the betting fervor generated by the professional gaming events, attendees have a plethora of other attractions they can enjoy at DEF 2025. The Gamers’ District, ENBD Family Zone, Emirates NBD Dubai Fortnite map and the Retro Zone are all designed to keep visitors engaged for hours on end. Techies will love the Gamers’ Garage, a showcase for the latest hardware. Everything from virtual reality rigs to high-performance consoles and customizable will be on display. At The Narrows, gamers can immerse themselves in a paradise filled with new gadgets and gaming accessories while grabbing exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming releases.
GameExpo Summit – Industry Minds Meet
The GameExpo Summit will feature over 100 industry leaders, investors and innovators, each of whom will influence the future of gaming. They will explore the latest developments in artificial intelligence, Web3, the Metaverse and gaming trends in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This segment features insightful keynote speeches, panel discussions and investor meet-ups to encourage collaboration and innovative ideas. The summit is also an opportunity to network, as everyone from indie developers to big game studios and massive tech start-ups will be present.
Education – Teaching the Next Generation of Creators
The DEF has a long-term vision focused on education and developing the gaming community. Since January, they have taken students from across Dubai and engaged them with hands-on learning and competitions. The Minecraft Education Challenge is popular with those students. The virtual design competition pits young students to build in digital Dubai. The finalists get to show their creations at the Grand Final at DEF 2025 on May 8. Older students will tackle tasks revolving around finance and strategy in the ENBD Fortnite Quest. They will also have a live finale showdown during GameExpo. DEF 2025 is also the place for aspiring developers and tech creatives to be. The GameOn Hackathon gives them a platform to conceptualize and build real game solutions. Participants will also receive mentorship and access to innovative development tools, and the best concepts will be on display at GameExpo.
Play Beyond – Influencer Showdowns and Community Excitement
Organizers will host an epic influencer tournament to round off the event. The most popular streamers and gaming personalities will compete in games such as EAFC24, Fall Guys, Roblox, Mario Kart, Fortnite and Overcooked 2. The competition features the race for the highly anticipated Play Beyond Champions Trophy, where Kuwaiti YouTube star AboFlah is expected to defend his crown. The Somali native has 44 million subscribers on his main channel and three million tuned in to his back-up, making him one of the top digital creators in the MENA region. Fans will get an opportunity to meet and greet their favourites. Access to Play Beyond is included with GameExpo tickets for May 10-11. Attendees who purchase the Pro Gamer ticket receive bonus rewards such as behind-the-scenes access and meet-and-greets.
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