In a strategic move aimed at boosting the gaming industry in the emirate, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is excited to announce the inclusion of Abu Dhabi Gaming (AD Gaming) into its portfolio. This collaboration underscores DCT’s dedication to fostering the gaming and esports ecosystem, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position as a global gaming hub.
Established in 2021, AD Gaming, a government-led initiative, brings together efforts from across Abu Dhabi to transform the emirate into a gaming hub. With a primary focus on talent development, game development, and esports, AD Gaming has played a pivotal role in expanding the region’s gaming industry. It provides career opportunities for aspiring talents and produces world-class content from the heart of the UAE capital, making it the largest concentration of gaming companies in the MENA region, with over 70 companies spanning all aspects of the gaming sector.
AD Gaming aspires to be the preferred choice in the MENA region for companies seeking access to and nurturing gaming industry talent, scaling game development, and esports businesses with global ambitions. Through collaboration with the education system and strategic partners, AD Gaming aims to train the next generation of gaming industry professionals while supporting local studios in their mission to create exceptional games.
HE Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, stated, “As gaming gains popularity worldwide, we aim to harness its potential to contribute to the UAE’s economic diversification and innovation-driven growth. Integrating AD Gaming into DCT Abu Dhabi is the next step in that journey, adding a new dimension to our aspirations for creative industries. Abu Dhabi’s thriving gaming and esports sector is a cornerstone of the emirate’s digital transformation and a key driver of creative industry expansion, and we eagerly anticipate the boundless possibilities this partnership will unlock.”
James Hartt, Gaming & Digital Development Department Director at AD Gaming, added, “The gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented growth in the MENA region, and Abu Dhabi is well-positioned to lead this expansion. Operating as part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s cohesive ecosystem, AD Gaming has a clear opportunity to deliver added value to both local and international gaming businesses, as well as to the UAE’s economy.”
Notable projects championed by AD Gaming include:
– AD Gaming Hub: Located at the heart of Yas Creative Hub, the AD Gaming Hub is a dedicated space showcasing the latest gaming technologies, content ideas, and development. It fosters creativity, encourages big-picture thinking, and contributes to the generation of high-quality gaming content.
– Unity Center of Excellence: AD Gaming partnered with Unity Technologies to establish the first Unity Center of Excellence in the MENA region, situated in the AD Gaming Hub. This center provides support to students, professionals, and small businesses in the game development industry.
– University Partnerships: AD Gaming formed strategic alliances with universities throughout the UAE, working with Unity Technologies to upskill and empower students in game development.
– BLAST Premier World Finals: AD Gaming collaborated with esports giant BLAST Premier to host the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive world final tournament in Abu Dhabi, marking the emirate’s entry into the global esports stage.
As part of its commitment to establishing a thriving gaming and esports ecosystem in the UAE capital, DCT Abu Dhabi previously announced plans to drive job creation in the rapidly expanding e-gaming industry, with positions distributed among more than 20 new companies.
