The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, organized the seventh edition of a series of digital economy workshops, which focused on the growing electronic games sector, stressing that Dubai is capable of being a regional and global capital of the electronic games industry.
In a statement, the Chamber stated that the series of interactive workshops it launched and is organizing provides an important platform for key players, startups, investors and interested parties to discuss the current state of the digital sector and contribute to building a clear future framework for the sector’s growth prospects.
She pointed out that the attendees discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the growth and development of the electronic games sector, and they discussed new and innovative solutions that would improve the sector and its competitiveness, as their discussions included: legislation and regulations, financing, talent and infrastructure.
The workshop also discussed the challenges of having Arabic content in games, especially since the Arabic language is the fifth most used language in the world.
Ahmed bin Bayat, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said that with the presence of a remarkable population of young people experienced in electronic games in Dubai, there are excellent opportunities for local, regional and international game developers to work in this sector.
Bin Bayat stressed the need to focus on establishing a suitable environment for all companies operating in the electronic games sector to thrive, gain a comprehensive understanding of this sector, and work closely together to ensure that current government policies, initiatives and strategies promote innovation, as well as harmonize the business environment for electronic games companies.
He added: “Our main role is to support the digital sectors, and to contribute to promoting a digital business environment that enjoys favorable, well-regulated and professional legislation. We consider the electronic games sector an essential part of the digital economy system, and Dubai is able to be the regional and global capital of the electronic games industry.
Bin Bayat stressed that Dubai has a qualified infrastructure and promising investment opportunities to become a world leader in the field of electronic games, especially given the sector’s overlap with the emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality and blockchain.
Electronic games
The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy stated that the electronic games industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will increase from $1.3 billion in 2019 to $4.5 billion in 2025.
Factors contributing to the increase in the number of electronic game users in the UAE, including the growing popularity of mobile games, and the availability of the fast 5G network.
According to data from the German company Statista, which specializes in market data, nine out of 10 adults in the UAE currently use video games, while the country has the highest average per capita spending on digital games in the region.