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Dubai’s GameExpo concludes after three days of gaming, esports
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05 Jul 2026 07:07:08 GMT9
05 Jul 2026 07:07:08 GMT9
DUBAI: GameExpo 2026, which took place on June 5-7, brought the curtain down on three days of thrilling competitions, immersive gaming experiences, and family-friendly entertainment that transformed the Dubai World Trade Centre into the region’s ultimate gaming destination
Throughout the weekend, the venue attracted thousands of people of all ages and featured various activations such as cosplay competitions, tournaments and fan-first experiences
The event was attended by prominent content creator AboFlah; footballer Yahya AlGhassani; Bahraini gamer Maryam Meher; and UAE-based gamers Amjad “AngryBird” Al-Shalabi and Adel “Big Bird” Anouche
Headlining the day’s schedule was the highly anticipated Cosplay Championship that attracted some of the region’s eye-catching costumes, with participants battling for a share of the AED 50,000 prize pool
COMICAVE and the Dubai Esports Festival together launched the region’s first-ever Cosplay Village, with COMICAVE adding several layers of contributions ranging from curation of exclusive collectibles to on-ground cosplay parades, retail activations and memorable experiences
The Cosplay Village hosted meet and greets, photo opportunities, and themed cosplay performances from multitudes of talented cosplayers in the region, becoming one of the event’s main attractions
Bandai Tamashii Nations emerged as a fan favorite among anime enthusiasts, while SEGA proved to be a breakout brand, delighting families and fans with the exclusive release of its Sonic and Friends plush collection, brought straight from Japan and only available at the COMICAVE booth
The COMICAVE team also brought in exclusive content and free franchise posters from one of the year’s most anticipated gaming films, Street Fighter, elevating the event programming even further
Muna Al Falasi, director of esports and games strategy at Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, reflected on the highlights of the festival to Arab News Japan: “A major highlight was the scale and diversity of the experience we delivered. With more than 300 games, over 120 playable devices, live tournaments, cosplay competitions, and a wide range of immersive zones, we were able to offer something for everyone, from hardcore gamers and creators to families and first-time visitors.”
“The introduction of new immersive zones was particularly well received. The Neo Tokyo District brought a fresh visual and cultural experience to the festival—a bold, anime-inspired world that offered fans a fully immersive environment blending retail, fandom and visual storytelling. The Amazon Battle Arena added a physical, live-action dimension to competitive gaming, while the Jetour Velocity Garage showcased high-intensity racing simulations that let visitors step into the world of motorsport with cutting-edge gaming technology.”
“What stood out most this year was how strongly the festival reflected gaming as a shared, social experience, aligning with the UAE’s Year of the Family and bringing together audiences of all ages and backgrounds,” she added
About the response and feedback from the visitors who came to the event, Al Falasi said, “The response this year has been extremely positive. We welcomed more than 43,000 visitors across three days and saw strong, consistent engagement, with visitors spending significant time across the different zones and experiences. The new zones generated a lot of excitement and conversation, especially because they offered something beyond traditional gameplay.”
“A highly encouraging result has been the diversity of the audience. Families, students, professional gamers, creators, and industry stakeholders all participated in various ways, showcasing how gaming has grown into a form of entertainment and interaction.”
“We have also received very positive feedback on the integration of education and industry elements. The Educational Engagement Program and the Education & Gaming Summit were seen as meaningful additions that helped bridge entertainment with real-world learning and career pathways.”
“Overall, the feedback reinforces that GameExpo and Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF) have become not just gaming events but platforms for connection, creativity, and community,” she added
About the upcoming plans following the event, Al Falasi said, “Following the conclusion of GameExpo, our focus now shifts to building on the strong momentum and continuing to strengthen Dubai’s gaming ecosystem year-round.”
“A key priority is scaling initiatives such as GameForward, which supports Emirati game developers and nurtures the next generation of talent in Dubai’s growing game development sector. Working alongside Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of DET, and our cultural partner, Dubai Culture, we want to ensure that the ideas, creativity, and talent we’ve seen during the festival continue to be supported and developed well beyond the event itself.”
“Looking ahead, we are already working on the next edition of DEF, which will be even bigger in scale and ambition. We aim to build on this year’s success by introducing new experiences, expanding participation from global partners and developers, and further enhancing the festival’s reach across the city. The goal is to continue raising the bar each year and deliver an even more immersive, inclusive, and impactful experience in 2027,” she added
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