The gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing business industries in the UAE these days. Emiratis are born carefree and are fun-loving people.
Sports have a special place in every Emirati’s heart. In fact, Sports is not just a ‘game’ but life, blood, and love for the Emiratis.
Did you know that watching Sports positively affects one’s psychological and even physical health?
Watching your favourite sports or playing them online provokes feelings of joy, thrill, excitement, suspense, and positive stress in you. This boosts your mental health.
Simultaneously, your body releases happy hormones like Oxytocin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and many more. Some of these hormones can even kill your body pain!
Resultantly, Emiratis love sports. What if, in this rapidly digitalising world, even sports could go digital? ‘eSports’ is a new sports culture that has started getting noticed.
From government to aspiring mobile game businesses, eSports is a sensational concept. If you are also planning to launch your gaming app soon and searching for a relevant idea, believe us. You can’t ignore eSports.
Let’s explore everything about it in this blog post.
Table of Contents
What is eSports?
eSports is a term coined by joining two words where ‘E’ stands for electronic and ‘sports’ stands for popular sports games. So, basically, digitalising Sports gaming through video games and gaming applications is called eSports.
However, eSports does not confine to video and mobile game development. Rather, online streaming of such games with a live audience is also a part of eSports culture.
Say, for example, a gaming YouTuber streaming a PUBG battle live on his/her channel. This is also a part of the eSports culture.
Popular eSport Categories in the UAE
Remember that eSports is a much wider concept and is not limited to Sports like Football, Tennis, and Cricket.
Especially, when it comes to the UAE, the cultural sports like Camel Racing and Desert Safari are also worth consideration.
So, let’s discover the broad eSports category
Battle Games
Games that require the players to create teams, make strategies, and fight a team battle digitally. Say, for example-
- PUBG
- Fortnite
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- League of Legends
- Wrestle Mania Games
Shooting Games
Games that require digital shooting skills, strategy, and focus also come under the eSports category. Some popular examples include-
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Call of Duty
- Valorant
- Overwatch 2
Strategy Games
Games that require you to build a strategy to win the game will also come under the eSports category. Examples are-
- Clash of Clans
- Dota 2
- StarCraft II
Racing Games
All kinds of racing games that have HD graphics and a smooth racing experience are also worth calling eSports. Say, for example-
- F1 2023
- iRacing
- Gran Turismo 7
Pro Tip for Mobile Game Developers🚀
However, the United Arab Emirates is one of the rarest countries that blends tradition and modernity together.
Then, why have UAE’s specific sports like Camel Racing and Desert Safari not been digitalised and encashed so far? Game developers must pay attention towards this. Can you see the opportunity? Grab it today.
Discuss your racing game development idea with a custom game development company in Dubai as soon as possible. Take the initiative and earn a high incentive!
Evergreen Fantasy Sports
When it comes to Sports, how can we ignore the evergreen categories like-
- Football, the heart and soul of the Emiratis
- Cricket, mostly popular due to Indian and Pakistani residents of the UAE
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Golf
And all other sports are popular worldwide. The UAE houses 199+ nationalities. Eventually, every sport is popular here. Thus, Fantasy sports app development is another popular business in the UAE.
UAE Government’s Support for eSports Development
Even, the UAE’s government is promoting the eSports culture with pomp and show in the UAE internationally.
Since, the Emirati leader Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has also envisioned to shift the traditional oil-based economy of the UAE towards a modern and digital economy while also maintaining its cultural heritage, the gaming industry is also receiving great patronage.
Not only by organising eSports events but also by offering incentives to the eSports startups, the UAE’s government is giving full support for its promotion.
Government Programs Supporting eSports Growth in the UAE
Let’s discover some popular programs and events-
Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 {Part of Vision 2033}
- The government of the UAE has envisioned to position Dubai as one of the top 10 creative economy-driven cities in the world.
- Therefore, the UAE’s government is patronising content creation, sports culture, arts and all the creative fields with pomp and show.
- Simultaneously, Vision 2033 also aims at evolving all Emirates as Smart Cities, for which digitalisation is the core focus of the government.
- eSports is a blend of creativity and digitalisation, therefore, eSports will be in the special limelight for sure.
Dubai Gaming Visa
- Top-notch eSports gamers and content creators will also receive a long-term residency in Dubai with the Dubai gaming visa.
- This will further promote the eSports gaming culture in the UAE and will also attract tourists.
AD Gaming
- Abu Dhabi is also a focus city for eSports promotion.
- AD Gaming initiative promotes eSports culture in Abu Dhabi with the main intention to create employment and internship opportunities in the game development industry.
eSports Events Hosted in the UAE
Likewise, the UAE government is also hosting various eSports events and has established top-notch gaming arenas. Some popular examples include-
Popular eSports Gaming Arenas in the UAE-
- Astral (Dubai): Tournament Arena for gamers and gaming content creators with PC lounges, console zones, and a café.
- Ferrari World Esports Arena (Abu Dhabi): Ferrari World Arena houses console gaming zones and is specially made for racing enthusiasts. Players can enjoy Formula 1 Racing here.
- True Gamers Arena (Abu Dhabi): Has console zones, conference areas, and streaming facilities. The government of the UAE has also proposed that True Gamers Arena is just a small part of a proposed eSports gaming island. So, it will expand even further.
- Esport Arena Gaming Club (Dubai): With PS5 Lounge
Popular eSports Events in the UAE-
- Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025
The biggest gaming event in the UAE was hosted in Dubai from April 25 to May 11 in the year 2025. Dubai Esports and Games Festival celebrated gaming culture with Gaming Expos, Showdowns (like PlayBeyond), and Industry Summits.
- Global eSports Games 2025
In December 2025, Dubai will again host a dedicated eSports gaming event in which international gamers and gaming content creators can participate. Clearly, the growing popularity of eSports is luring the UAE’s government to yield revenues from hosting such big events.
- BLAST Premier World Final
In December 2023 and 2024, as well, the UAE held the world’s biggest eSports event, namely BLAST Premier World Final. The event was so gigantic that it offered a $1 million (AED 3.6 million) pool prize. The event was significant for the entire MENA region.
But Why is eSports Receiving Government Patronage?
Clearly, eSports is grabbing unexpected attention from the government of the UAE. But what could be the possible reason? Let us decode-
Aspiration To Shift Emirati Economy from Traditional Oil-Based to Modern Digital
The government of the UAE has envisioned emerging as a leading digital-driven country in the world. The Vision 2033, a plan by the government, aims to come out of the age-old image of being an oil-based economy to a digital economy.
However, the UAE’s culture is also fun-driven. The UAE is renowned for its tourism and adventurous activities. Esports combine both digitalisation and fun. Consequently, the eSports and video gaming industry is getting so much attention.
To Attract Youth & Generate In-House Employment
Gaming attracts the tech-savvy youth, and the government of the UAE wish to attract the youth and encourage talent. Therefore, eSports gamers and content creators are receiving patronage from the government. Promoting eSports culture can attract in-house employment.
To Increase the Number of Game App Development Companies & Encourage More Entrepreneurship & Startup Culture
Likewise, the government also wants the Emirati and international youth to take initiatives to become entrepreneurs.
The government eyes a startup culture that generates more employment and also provides entertainment.
It is like killing two birds with one stone. At one hand, this will promote startup culture and digitalisation in the UAE, on the other hand, the popularity of eSports will bring more tourism.
Thus, this act will generate revenues from all sides.
An Indirect Way to Promote UAE Tourism
Like said above, the promotion of eSports culture indirectly attracts more tourists towards the UAE.
These international Esports events bring international gamers and content creators to the country for a specific period of time. They stay in the UAE and visit popular places.
Additionally, the gaming audience that comes to see the tournaments also brings tourism to the UAE.
People come from different countries to see their favourite YouTubers, Gamers, Influencers, and Content Creators. Overall, the UAE gets good tourism from hosting these events.
For Maintaining Cultural Decency During the Digitalisation Process
Moreover, the UAE is a country that believes in modernising but without leaving its cultural roots. Digitalisation and modernisation in the UAE do not mean ‘westernisation’ in any way.
Therefore, the government of the UAE is taking initiatives to promote in-house digitalisation so that cultural decency may be maintained here.
Content in the UAE is highly censored and monitored. Therefore, in-house development is the core focus.
Contemplating eSports Game Development as a Profitable Business Idea in the UAE💡
Now, coming to the main topic of our discussion. Are you planning to launch a gaming application for the Emirati audience soon, and are you at the research phase? If yes, you have come to the right blog post.
If you are clear about launching a game app but have not decided yet what kind of game can be future-proof, then believe it. Esports game development in the UAE is the safest option considering the prevailing scenarios.
Certainly, if you can plan a solid eSports idea, you will grab the attention of various popular YouTubers, gamers, and content creators. Nothing can stop you from going viral and yielding billions of dollars in revenue. You can consider the following types of eSports game development-
Mobile Game Development
- In the UAE, according to the Campaign Middle East report, 77% of the gamers prefer mobile gaming. Therefore, eSports mobile game development can be the top-most choice to attract a wide business reach.
PC Game Development
- Around 45% of the gamers prefer PC games. Therefore, choosing PC game development services is also a good option. However, it might limit the size of the target audience, and anyhow, you will need to expand as a mobile game as well.
Console Game Development
- Console gaming is highly popular in Saudi Arabia, with 50% of the gamers playing on the consoles. Also, in the UAE 46% of the gamers prefer console gaming. Therefore, console game development is another future-proof idea after mobile games.
However, an aspiring business may choose hybrid and cross-platform game app development services and target Android + iOS + Desktop. This, too, will include mobile and PC gamers, giving a wider audience reach.
Pro Tip
Where to Find A Reliable Mobile Game Development Company?
Now, finding a reliable game development company that can offer eSports development can be challenging in the UAE.
However, you must remember that Esports is an ‘emerging’ trend, therefore, the option of choosing a development team on the basis of portfolio will be limited.
Additionally, portfolio-based choice will also incur higher game development costs. Alternatively, it is advisable to choose a custom game development company and check its previous work, client testimonials, Google reviews, and social media comments.
Choose a mobile game development company that appears reliable. However, also keep in mind that always connect with various companies before choosing one. Discuss your project requirements with them and see which one seems more promising.
Leaving You With
Esports app development has multi-faceted benefits in the UAE in the current scenario. At one hand, eSports is receiving government patronage, on the other hand, it is generating billion-dollar revenues by grabbing the attention of renowned YouTubers, gamers, and content creators.
Furthermore, the UAE is the leading tourist destination, and people from all across the world come here during vacation to enjoy fun-filled activities like sports, culture, food, desert safaris, and whatnot! eSports culture and events are attracting more tourism towards it.
Resultantly, eSports game development is a future-proof business idea for the Emirati entrepreneurs at present. Young and aspiring entrepreneurs must strive to cash this idea before competition gets too high.
So, be ready for a pioneering eSports app idea and choose a promising game app development company today. We wish you luck in advance.
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