DUBAI ESPORTS AND GAMES FESTIVAL WILL RETURN!
DUBAI ESPORTS AND GAMES FESTIVAL WILL RETURN!
Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF) 2023 came back with a bang to bring things to the next level with five days of action-packed events and activities. It featured an electrifying gaming extravaganza with the GameExpo which was attended by more than 26,000 visitors, showcased the future of the industry with the GameExpo Summit powered by PG Connects to more than 1,800 industry experts, hosted exciting tournaments such as Play Beyond and Minecraft Education Challenge, and offered an immersive gaming adventure like no other. DEF 2023 was a wildly entertaining experience of a lifetime. See you in 2024!
GAMEEXPO SUMMIT POWERED BY PG CONNECTS
The GameExpo Summit was an exclusive B2B esports and gaming conference, powered by PG Connects. From June 21-22, this year's B2B event saw over 2,000 meetings held using the ‘MeetToMatch’ system, with 38 investors and developers meeting on Investor Connector to elevate the game tech sector in the UAE.
There were more than 1,800 visitors, with industry experts from around the world sharing ideas and insights that defined the future of esports and gaming in the MENA region. It attracted leading agencies, teams, tournament organizers, platforms and publishers near and far to showcase the future of the esports and gaming industry in the region and beyond.
LEARN MORE
GAMEEXPO
The exhilarating GameExpo, returned for an explosive celebration of all things gaming. The event brought an unmissable line-up of 14 esports competitions including high-octane Play Beyond Tournaments, all-time gaming classics at the Retro Zone, cutting-edge gaming products and the latest games, including 11 newly released games.
Eager gaming fans, families and the public played 57 unmissable games with attendees immersing themselves in the world of virtual reality, with gaming enthusiasts connecting in the Dubai Police Esports Arena and more than 40 exhibitors, including support from industry giants like Playstation, Xbox and Capcom. The event also saw an exciting cosplay competition with over 30 participants and amazing prizes.
LEARN MORE
EDUCATION
The Education event at GameExpo saw 3,200 students invited for an exciting educational programme to explore how esports and gaming can nurture and raise awareness for future career paths for the next generation. Schools were provided with career talks from industry professionals, influencer visits, and educational workshops. Plus, over 5,800 primary and secondary students participated in the Minecraft Education Challenge exploring a Dubai-based map, challenged themselves in a sustainable themed Microsoft Makecode Competition and battled it out in the Brawlhalla regional Esports Tournament, with amazing prizes on the line in the grand finals at Expo City! All pre-registered schools and universities got to attend the education days free of charge on June 21st and 22nd at Expo City.
LEARN MOREPLAY BEYOND
A new addition to the festival lineup, Play Beyond took DEF by storm as it united gaming legends including Miniminter, AboFlah, Granthinds, Demisux, Basharkk, Saeed Wolf, Bashayer and Jukeyz, for an intense Regional vs. International esports tournament like never before. Locked in a heated battle of exhilarating challenges and games of multiple genres, these gamer-influencer teams fought each other on the virtual battlefield, with the regional team emerging victorious.
Fans got to watch and learn from their favourite local and global influencers live in action and enjoy meeting them in person. Play Beyond had fans on the edge of their seats.
LEARN MORE
OUR STORY
Founded in 2022, the Dubai Esports & Games Festival celebrates all things gaming. By combining the best in competitive video games with electrifying experiences and next-gen talent, the annual festival aims to become a regular fixture in the international circuit. It's time to play to infinity and beyond.
WHY ESPORTS IN DUBAI?
As a future-first, innovative city, Dubai is perfectly poised to be the Middle East and North Africa’s leading esports and gaming hub. After all, the city pioneered the region’s first large-scale gaming competition back in 2018, and regularly invests in technology and infrastructure to spur a thriving, connected community where everyone is welcome.
