400 specialists and decision makers discuss the development of the electronic gaming sector

As part of the Dubai Electronic Games Retreat, the Dubai Media Council organized a specialized workshop and discussion sessions with high-level participation, which included more than 100 sector leaders and decision makers, along with more than 300 participants from the electronic gaming community in Dubai. The participants discussed the most prominent opportunities and challenges, and ways to develop an integrated system capable of attracting global investments, empowering talent, supporting companies and developers in various stages of growth, and developing an integrated environment that supports the prosperity of the electronic gaming industry in Dubai.

The workshop formed a platform for direct dialogue between government agencies, the private sector, and the electronic gaming community, to review the needs of companies and developers at various stages of growth, discuss ways to attract international investments and talents, and enhance Dubai’s position as a major center for the development of digital games and creative industries.

The discussions focused on five strategic axes, including: talent, governance and legislation, financing, marketing, and infrastructure, which enhances Dubai’s competitive advantages and supports building an incubating business environment for digital gaming companies and industry leaders.

The Secretary-General of the Dubai Media Council, Nihal Badri, stated that the electronic games sector has become one of the most vital sectors in the global media industry, due to the creativity, technological innovation and digital interaction it brings together, stressing that Dubai opens the way for creative people to transform their ideas into projects that compete globally.

She said: “At Dubai Media Council, we focus on developing a regulatory and institutional environment that keeps pace with the sector’s changing needs, supports investment in talent, stimulates entrepreneurship, and opens the way for innovators and developers to transform their ideas into projects that can grow and compete globally.”

Khalfan Belhoul, Chairman of the Dubai Electronic Games Committee, said: “The electronic gaming sector stands at the forefront of the media and digital economy sectors, and leads rapid developments in many areas, including creative storytelling, technological innovation, and entrepreneurship.”

He stressed that the cities that initiate early investment in talent, ideas, and enabling environments will be the most capable and ready to shape the future of this sector.

For his part, Executive Director of the Media Development Sector at Dubai Media Council, Hisham Al Olama, said: “This workshop embodies the Council’s commitment to listening to the needs of companies, developers and investors, and transforming the ideas and challenges they raise into clear courses of action, in cooperation with partners in the government and private sectors, in a way that enhances the growth of the electronic games industry in Dubai, supports attracting talent and investments, and raises the sector’s readiness to compete globally.”

Under the directives of the Dubai Media Council, the Dubai Film and Electronic Games Office will transform the retreat’s recommendations into practical initiatives, in coordination with partners in the government and private sectors, to ensure keeping pace with rapid global developments, and to create the ideal environment for companies, developers and investors to flourish.

The Council will issue a comprehensive report on the retreat’s outcomes and recommendations, to serve as a practical reference for developing future initiatives and building strategic partnerships that support the growth of the electronic gaming sector in Dubai.

Nihal Badri:

• Dubai opens the way for creative people to transform their ideas into projects that compete globally.

Khalfan Belhoul:

• The electronic gaming sector is driving rapid developments in creative storytelling, technological innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Hisham Al Olama:

• The “workshop” embodies the Council’s commitment to listening to the ideas of companies and investors, and transforming them into clear courses of action.