Dubai showcases growing gaming sector at Gamescom

Dubai is showcasing its growing gaming sector at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, with its largest-ever pavilion at the world’s leading gaming trade fair.

The Dubai Films and Games Commission, part of the Dubai Media Council, is leading the emirate’s participation, alongside government entities and private-sector partners.

The pavilion features more than 10 showcases, as well as a live stage for discussions and dedicated spaces for game studios and investors to explore partnerships and business opportunities.

Officials say Dubai's presence reflects the rapid growth of its gaming industry and its ambition to become a global hub for gaming and creative industries.

The emirate is working to achieve this through the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, which aims to place Dubai among the world’s top 10 gaming hubs by the end of the decade.

The programme focuses on attracting international studios, supporting local talent, improving access to funding and creating an environment where gaming companies can grow and innovate.

Between 2024 and 2026, the number of gaming companies operating in Dubai grew from 368 to 495, a 34.5 per cent increase over two years.

The GameForward accelerator is backing the newer ones, and developer grants are pulling international teams across, all this translating into roughly 30,000 jobs and close to $1 billion in projected annual revenue by 2033.

Further boosting goals of the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, the Good Games Club podcast is relocating to Dubai, bringing a large share of the on-air voices within the industry to the city with it and promising to strengthen connections between its gaming community and counterparts around the world.

Dubai’s strategic location, global connectivity and advanced infrastructure are also being highlighted as key advantages for gaming companies, developers and investors looking to access markets and talent across East and West.

Gamescom 2026 runs in Cologne from August 26 to 30, bringing together more than 1,500 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world.

A highlight of the participation of the Dubai Films and Games Commission, an entity of the Dubai Media Council, in Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, the world’s largest event of its kind dedicated to the gaming sector, which attracts more than 350,000 visitors and over 1,500… pic.twitter.com/blbbE1ODQp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 27, 2026

The Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC), an entity of the Dubai Media Council, is participating in Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, the premier global trade fair dedicated to the gaming sector, with the emirate’s biggest pavilion to date. Dubai’s delegation to the event,… pic.twitter.com/1iT9fsuBf0

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 27, 2026