Image via Abu Dhabi Gaming Abu Dhabi Gaming will host Finnish games industry executive Joni Lappalainen at its next AD Gaming Connect event on October 29, with a session focused on building and managing sustainable game development studios. The event, titled How to Build and Run a Gaming Studio in 2027, will take place at Sandstorm, Yas Creative Hub, Abu Dhabi, from 4pm to 8pm. Lappalainen is CEO of Finnish game developer Dreamloop Games and Chairperson of the Finnish Game De

Image via Euro University of Bahrain Euro University of Bahrain (EUB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bahrain E-Sports Federation to strengthen links between higher education and Bahrain's gaming and esports industry. The agreement aims to provide EUB students with practical exposure to esports, opportunities to engage with industry professionals and skills development beyond traditional classroom learning. The partnership will also support greater collabora

Image via Clover Moroccan game developers Zakarya Chioua and Hidaya Saf, from Marrakech-based indie developer Clover Studio, have been selected for Game Créalab Francophone 2026, where they will further develop their upcoming game Sky Drift. The two-week residency takes place in Chartres, France, from October 9 to 22, bringing together five creative teams from France, Luxembourg, Morocco, Switzerland and Belgium's Wallonia region. Chioua and Saf will represent Morocco with Sk

Image via Mastercard / Tamatem Mastercard and Jordan-founded games company Tamatem have partnered to expand payment options for players and game publishers across the Middle East and Africa. Under the agreement, Mastercard Gateway will become the payment gateway behind Tamatem Plus, the company’s digital commerce and payments platform, across more than 13 markets. The rollout will begin in Saudi Arabia and the UAE before expanding across the wider region. Tamatem Plus provide

Image Via Center of Digital Entrepreneurship (CODE) Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has launched the third edition of Saudi Game Champions, a six-month programme designed to support local talent in game development. The programme is being run through the ministry’s Center of Digital Entrepreneurship (CODE) in partnership with the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), and will take place in Riyadh. The six-month programme will com

Niko Partners' Danial Ahmad explains where MENA gaming goes next, from esports and localization to regulation, talent and sustainable growth.

Image via NAFES Jordanian gaming and esports companies are set to gain access to technical support and potential funding under a new programme targeting the country’s creative industries. The National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to establish a joint support pathway for Jordanian small and medium-sized enterprises. Around 20 SMEs will be selected across three areas: gami

Image via Qatar Museums Qatar Museums has unveiled a new immersive racing game developed with Google Cloud that will allow players to explore the country's museums, heritage sites and public art. Called Qatar Museums Grand Rally, the game was previewed during the Google Cloud Summit Doha this week and is currently in development ahead of a wider launch. The project combines virtual racing with cultural experiences inspired by locations across Qatar, using gaming as a way for

Image via Niko Partners Japanese video game franchises that introduced Arabic localization and increased their local market presence saw their share of sales from the GCC rise by an average of 33.2%, according to new research from Niko Partners. The research brief, commissioned by Media City Qatar in collaboration with games market intelligence firm Niko Partners, examines the growing relationship between Japan’s games industry and players across the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Image via Esports Foundation Average live viewership for the Esports World Cup increased 37% year-on-year in 2026, reaching 145,100 viewers, according to a new report from Esports Charts. Total watch time also increased significantly, rising 29.5% compared with 2025 to more than 237 million hours watched across the tournaments and their qualifiers. The figures cover 25 esports tournaments and their qualifiers, with Esports Charts pointing to an expanded competition programme

Image via The National Development Fund (NDF) More than 127 game titles have received development support through Saudi Arabia's Gaming and Esports Financing Program, according to a new report detailing the programme's achievements. The National Development Fund (NDF) said more than SAR421 million ($112 million) in financing had been approved by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, benefiting 82 entities across the sector. The programme has supported the completion of 43 g

About The Hiring Team Level Infinite is Tencent’s global gaming brand. It is a global game publisher offering a comprehensive network of services for games, development teams, and studios around the world.We are dedicated to delivering engaging and original gaming experiences to a worldwide audience, whenever and wherever they choose to play while building a community that fosters inclusivity, connection, and accessibility. Level Infinite also provides a wide range of service

Image via 3D Game Jam / AssetHub Saudi Arabia is hosting a three-day game jam bringing more than 200 developers, artists and designers together with veteran Japanese game creators to build playable prototypes using AI and 3D technology. The 3D Game Jam kicked off on August 27 at Code Lab, King Saud University in Riyadh and runs until August 30, with participants able to take part both in person and online. Powered by AI 3D platform AssetHub, the event challenges teams to move