One of the most prominent events in the city is the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, during which betting enthusiasts can place bets on their favorites at the best UAE casino sites for Emiratis. The festival, patronized by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, showcases the latest in gaming. It features 14 Esports competitions and 57 games, catering to casual gamers, Esports enthusiasts, and industry professionals worldwide.
In this regard, let’s take a closer look at Esports’s growing popularity, its impact on this renowned tourist destination, and the opportunities it holds for gamers from the Middle East and beyond.
How Esports Is Shaping the Future of Live Entertainment in Dubai
The gaming industry is expanding rapidly, with an estimated 3 billion gamers worldwide. According to published reports, the Middle East is emerging as a significant force in Esports, offering immense potential for the industry.
The UAE, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, has become a hub for Esports and aims to attract global businesses while supporting local talent in gaming. Abu Dhabi Gaming is offering strong incentives, and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre’s Gaming Centre are leading this initiative.
Dubai has established itself as a premier destination for esports. The city has become a hub for gamers and enthusiasts, thanks to the growing popularity of Esports tournaments and events, where gamers come together to test their skills against one another playing competitive video games.
Dubai’s business-friendly environment has led several international gaming developers to establish their regional headquarters, such as the Chinese gaming company Tencent.
Due to the UAE’s commitment to positioning the Middle East as a global Esports hub and with an increasing demand for this type of sport, Dubai’s Esports scene is likely to continue growing.
Esports market and its potential in UAE
Esports has become a dominant form of entertainment, captivating audiences both online and in person. Events have racked up over 100 million hours watched, and major live tournaments have sold out rapidly.
The industry has seen an increase in both the number and quality of tournaments, with a notable rise in prize pools over the years. Currently, the esports audience stands at 500 million, which is only a fraction of the global gamer population, indicating the potential for further growth in the sector.
UAE is at the forefront of the Esports industry, and according to data from Statista, the esports industry is expected to show an annual revenue growth rate of 5.28%. The market value can reach $372.6 million by 2027. The rise of the Esports industry in the country will boost tourism and create numerous job opportunities for professionals interested in game development, design, and marketing.
All in all, since the Esports industry has an optimistic outlook and brings a new form of entertainment to communities, it has the potential to attract tourists and create more job opportunities in the hospitality industry. Therefore, it’s safe to say that an increase in market revenue and job opportunities is expected in the future.
Esports gaming clubs in Dubai
Esports gaming clubs worldwide are rapidly professionalizing, with top-tier teams emerging in various games. Many clubs, including those in the Middle East, are diversifying their business models and evolving into media and entertainment entities.
Dubai’s gaming club culture is growing with the rise of Esports, catering to both casual and competitive gamers with high-spec PCs, a vast selection of games, high-speed internet, and snacks on demand.
DZZRT Esports Gaming, established in 2019, is one of the most popular Esports gaming clubs in Dubai. They offer a calm and modern atmosphere with four sections, including a standard area, an adult area, a VIP area, and a PS5 area. Another popular Esports gaming club is Game Town Electronic Games. They are equipped with Razer products, from chairs to headsets, mousepads, and keyboards, all in Razer’s famous rainbow hue.
The fact that True Gamers’ eSports clubs network will set up new gaming spaces in Dubai in the near future shows that the Esports gaming clubs in this emirate are expanding. So, If you’re an Esports enthusiast visiting Dubai, there is no need to abandon your hobby. On the contrary, there is plenty to explore when it comes to Esports gaming clubs.
Dubai announced as host city for 2025 Global Esports Games
The Global Esports Federation (GEF) is a non-governmental organization that brings together the world’s esports community. One of the events organized by the GEF is the Global Esports Games (GEG), a multi-title esports competition featuring athletes from Member Federations.
The championship takes place in December every year, with Singapore hosting it in 2021, Istanbul in 2022, Riyadh being the host this year, and China hosting next year. Recently, the Federation announced that the venue for the Global Esports Games 2025 will be Dubai. The announcement was made as part of the Global Esports Tour Dubai 2022, which was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Dubai will be the fifth city to host the Global Esports Games.
Paul J. Foster, CEO of the GEF, expressed his excitement about the incredible progress of the Esports market in the region since signing a Strategic Framework Agreement with Emirates Esports at Expo 2020 Dubai. He also highlighted that Dubai is a great host and offers a world-class setting, ensuring that the athletes from across the world and the fans will have a great time during this big event.
This worldwide Esports event will certainly contribute to the growth of Esports gaming, especially in the UAE in the future.
Conclusion
Esports has taken the world by storm, and Dubai is no exception. The city has emerged as a hub for Esports gamers and fans, thanks to the growing popularity of esports tournaments and events. The signs and predictions of the Esports market in the UAE, specifically Dubai, are positive, indicating that it will soon become the top destination for partners.
With time, esports will become mainstream and be on par with traditional sports. Esports events like the Global Esports Games, scheduled to be held in Dubai in 2025, are perfect for like-minded individuals to come together and enjoy their passion for esports, drawing crowds from different parts of the world.
This will give tourism a boost, leading to economic growth. Dubai will likely continue growing its Esports scene and become a well-known gaming hub for all Esports enthusiasts and professional players.
