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EconomyFunding|July 8, 2026, 01:49 AM
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Dubai Gaming Retreat Sets Five Priorities Without Funding Plan

BySendTech Times Capital & Policy DeskNewsroom-edited, source-reviewed coverage|Source: Economy Middle East
Newsroom brief

Dubai Media Council convened more than 100 industry leaders and more than 300 gaming community members to shape policy recommendations, but it has not disclosed funding amounts, deadlines, incentives or company commitments.

Verified against source materialEdited by SendTech Times Capital & Policy Desk
Dubai Gaming Retreat Sets Five Priorities Without Funding Plan
Image source: Economy Middle East

Dubai Gaming Retreat Named Five Policy Priorities

Dubai Media Council said the retreat brought together more than 100 industry leaders and more than 300 gaming community members as it turns the next phase of Dubai's gaming sector into a policy exercise.

The Dubai Gaming Retreat policy recommendations will cover talent, governance and regulation, funding, marketing and infrastructure, but the council has not yet published funding amounts, implementation deadlines or approved incentives.

The workshop and panel discussions were designed to shape the sector's next stage rather than announce a completed programme.

Dubai Media Council said the discussions focused on attracting global talent and investment, supporting companies across their growth stages and reinforcing the emirate's role in game development and creative industries.

The five stated priorities give the initiative a wider scope than a single industry event.

Talent policy covers the supply of developers and creative workers.

Governance and regulation point to rules that gaming companies may need as the sector grows.

Funding and marketing address company growth and global reach, while infrastructure covers the physical and digital systems needed by studios, platforms and esports operators.

Dubai Media Council Says Regulation And Support Must Evolve

Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, said gaming has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global media industry and brings together creativity, technology and innovation.

She said the council's priority is to ensure that Dubai's policy environment, regulatory frameworks and institutional support evolve with the sector.

Badri said the council is working with industry partners over the long term on talent attraction, entrepreneurship and the gaming sector's contribution to Dubai's media economy.

The public account did not quote her giving a budget, a launch date for new rules, or a list of immediate regulatory changes.

Khalfan Belhoul, Chairman of the Dubai Gaming Committee, described gaming as a sector spanning media, technology and entrepreneurship.

He said cities that invest early in talent, ideas and enabling environments will shape the sector's future, and described collaboration across the ecosystem as a way to create opportunities for future generations.

PlayStation, Tencent And NVIDIA Joined The Workshop

The participant list shows global gaming and technology companies in the room.

PlayStation, Tencent, NVIDIA, Electronic Arts and Discord were among the participants, alongside HP, ASUS, Riot Games, Ubisoft, Twitch, Bandai Namco, Xsolla, Transcend and Geekay.

Those names show that Dubai's gaming policy discussion included console, game publishing, graphics, hardware, streaming, community and regional retail participants.

The article did not identify which companies proposed specific policy measures, committed capital, agreed to local hiring targets or named new Dubai-based projects.

Hesham Al Olama, chief executive of the Dubai Films and Games Commission, said the retreat was meant to listen to leading players and the gaming community and convert their ideas into practical initiatives.

He said the commission wants public-private partnerships that improve the gaming ecosystem, bring in talent and investment, and raise the sector's global competitiveness.

Dubai Films And Games Commission Will Prepare A Recommendations Report

The Dubai Films and Games Commission, which operates under Dubai Media Council, will now prepare a report that captures industry recommendations across the five strategic priorities.

The article said the report will guide future policy, strategic partnerships and initiatives supporting the continued growth of Dubai's gaming ecosystem.

That next document is the concrete step still missing from the public record.

Dubai Media Council did not disclose funding amounts, implementation deadlines, approved incentives, named projects, company commitments or the publication date for the recommendations report.

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