Seventeen Dubai-based studios and SMEs will showcase original games, creative innovation, and homegrown talent at GameExpo 2026 from 5 to 7 June at Dubai World Trade Centre
Tickets are still available from AED 29 as well as free parking for up to six hours.
Ticket-holders can win a brand-new Jetour T2 Luxury Plus courtesy of Elite Group Holding with their GameExpo ticket.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates,June 2026: GameExpo, the flagship event of the Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF 2026), will once again celebrate the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial talent driving Dubai’s growing gaming ecosystem, giving visitors the chance to discover and engage directly with homegrown developers and original game concepts.
Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), GameExpo from 5 to 7 June at Dubai World Trade Centre, headlines this year’s festival – bringing a new level of energy, scale and immersive experiences for players, creators, industry professionals and fans of all ages.
The three-day event will feature 17 Dubai-based studios and SMEs participating through GameForward, a new accelerator program launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), designed to empower Emirati game developers and support the growth of Dubai’s gaming industry.
GameForward will run alongside The Narrows, a dedicated creative marketplace supported by Dubai Culture that champions local artists, creatives, and SMEs as part of Dubai’s growing cultural and creative economy.
The two zones will form some of the festival’s most culturally driven experiences, offering visitors the unique opportunity to discover original creations, support local talent, and connect directly with the creators shaping the future of the region’s gaming and creative industries.
Visitors will be able to experience games in development, meet the creators behind them, provide direct feedback, and gain insight into the ideas and stories shaping the next generation of games emerging from Dubai and the UAE.
Among the homegrown studios featured at GameExpo is Foxrito, founded by Ismail Ahli and Hussain Darwish. Foxrito will be showcasing Darkness Road, a third-person survival psychological horror game inspired by the region and set in the fictional Arabian Gulf city of Dar Al Hai in 1996.
Ismail Ahli believes GameExpo is the perfect space to enhance its growth, get noticed and develop the studio further. He said: “GameExpo is an incredible opportunity for us to interact directly with players and get their firsthand feedback. As an independent studio, the exposure and spotlight that we get are really important for us and is the perfect platform to connect and interact with the public and the gaming community in general.”
Hussain Darwish added: “My partners and I grew up absolutely loving video games, but we never really saw our own culture authentically represented on screen. We founded Foxrito Studios to change that by sharing our unique heritage with the world through spectacular, high-quality gaming experiences and our goal is to be a key regional and global player in the game development industry.”
Also participating is Dubai-based studio Cosmic Galaxy Entertainment, who secured a partnership with Playstation through GameForward. Founded by Abdulla Alshamsi and Yousif Albuainain, they will showcase Eldra Relic, a top-down action role-player game that combines fast, loot-driven progression with flashy anime-inspired combat, blending 2D VFX into 3D gameplay for intense yet readable battles.
Players craft gear, refine builds and master evolving boss encounters that grow more complex across tiers, rewarding skill, adaptation and progression through challenging endgame combat.
Cosmic Galaxy Entertainment’s inception was fuelled by the wish to help grow the local game industry and it’s a key reason why they’re looking forward to GameExpo.
Abdulla Alshamsi said: “GameExpo is important because it connects us with players, developers, publishers, investors and industry people. It helps give us exposure, get feedback and offers a chance to show that the UAE is a strong hub for gaming development.”
The presence of Emirati and Dubai-based gaming developers at GameExpo reflectsDubai’s continued investment in future-focused industries and supports the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to position the city as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital talent.
Alongside celebrating local talent, GameExpo 2026 will feature more that 300 gaming experiences across more than 10 immersive zones, bringing together esports, anime, cosplay, retro gaming, motorsports, creator culture and interactive entertainment all in one destination.
Visitors can explore three new headline zones: Neo Tokyo District, Amazon Battle Arena and Jetour Velocity Garage. Alongside live esports tournaments, community competitions, and the return of the Dubai Cosplay Championship with a AED 50,000 prize pool.
Visitors can spend three days exploring gaming, esports, anime, cosplay, creator culture, retro gaming, live entertainment, competitions, community experiences, food concepts, and creative marketplaces all under one roof.
With GameExpo set to be the biggest and most diverse edition yet, visitors are encouraged to secure tickets early and experience everything from esports tournaments and cosplay competitions to hands-on gameplay, creator experiences, anime, motorsports, and homegrown gaming talent across three action-packed days. For the first time, attendees can also enjoy free parking for up to six hours in either Mustaqbal or Exhibition street parking of Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Dubai Esports & Games Festival is presented by du and supported by key partners including Amazon, Dubai Culture, Jetour UAE, part of Elite Group Holding and talabat – bringing together leading industry players to power one of the region’s most dynamic gaming events..
GameExpo tickets from AED 29 are available now via Platinumlist at www.game-expo.platinumlist.
Plus, ticket holders will have an exciting opportunity to win a brand-new Jetour T2 Luxury Plus courtesy of Elite Group Holding with their GameExpo ticket.
Follow @DubaiFestivals on Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates, announcements, and behind-the-scenes content.
About Dubai Esports & Games Festival:
Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), a part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF 2026) takes place from 22 May to 7 June 2026. Launched in 2022, the annual festival aims to set and influence trends across the global and regional gaming industry, while bolstering Dubai’s position as a global hub for esports and interactive, tech-driven entertainment. DEF features a diverse mix of experiences, including flagship gaming events, esports tournaments, educational initiatives, and industry-led platforms that connect communities, talent, and businesses from around the world.
About Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment:
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), a part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is responsible for developing Dubai’s retail and festival sectors and supporting the positioning of Dubai as a world-class tourism destination with year-round family entertainment, shopping and events.
