Professionals from across the gaming industry can level up their gaming knowledge at the GameExpo Summit, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Zabeel Hall 4 on 1 and 2 May. Powered by Pocket Gamer Connects, the leading international gaming conference is part of the third Dubai Esports and Gaming Festival (DEF), organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE).

Returning for its second year, the GameExpo Summit brings together over 70 expert speakers who will share their insights across 10 themed tracks – from established monetisation skills to Web3 trends. The speaker line-up includes H.E. Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General, Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA), as well as high-profile panel lists from across the global gaming industry. Attendees can exchange best practices with more than 1,000 industry professionals from around the world and discuss current trends, challenges, and opportunities to stay ahead of the ever-evolving global gaming landscape.

Chris James, CEO of Steel Media, the owners and promoters of Pocket Gamer Connects, commented: “We are delighted to be returning to Dubai and working again with the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment for the second edition of the GameExpo Summit, powered by PG Connects. This is our 45th PGC conference in the 10th anniversary year of our PG Connects events, during which we have visited 10 different countries on 3 continents to connect over 50,000 industry professionals in 100K+ meetings and helped contribute over $1billion to the ecosystem, and we hope to build on all those numbers.”

He added, “The MENA market is the fastest growing region in the $189 billion global gaming ecosystem for the second year running, both in terms of gaming audience and overall value (up 4.7% in 2023), so it’s clear that there are huge opportunities in this space for those already in the games industry or looking to join. Dubai is naturally a fantastic entry point to this region. Not only is it an amazing city that is welcoming to visitors, but with its entrepreneurial spirit, business-friendly tax regimes, and proximity to both local and regional talent, it has all the ingredients to become a major player in the games industry in the years ahead.”

GameExpo Summit features a packed schedule of activities, including inspiring keynote speeches, insightful panel discussions, expert workshops, fringe events, and vibrant networking sessions. A dedicated expo area, titled The Very Big Indie Pitch, also enables developers to receive real-time feedback from potential customers and identify new market opportunities, while attendees can try out the latest games and technologies. A Publisher SpeedMatch platform has been designed to facilitate seamless networking opportunities and meetings with publishers, platforms, brands, or industry experts. Meanwhile, the Big Indie Zone pitching competition invites indie developers to showcase their game ideas and designs to the industry’s decision makers. Lastly, a series of Investor Connector meetings enables pre-selected companies to explore funding and investment opportunities.

Another highlight of the summit, The MENA Games Industry Awards will honour regional businesses and individuals who are propelling the MENA games industry forward. The awards will celebrate individuals, developers, publishers, advertising and monetisation companies over 12 categories, including new emerging technologies in a thrilling showcase of the sector’s top talents.

Gaming industry professionals can secure their place at the GameExpo Summit with tickets starting from AED 134. Ticket holders can also access GameExpo, an immersive consumer event happening from 3 – 5 May in DWTC, Zabeel Halls 5 and 6.

GameExpo Summit is powered by Pocket Gamer Connects, with the support of Dubai SME, Dubai Future Foundation, DMCC, Liftoff, Cloudflare Inc., Elevatix, Xsolla, ID@Xbox, Dubai Eye 103.8, Dubai Program for Gaming, AppLovin, Usercentrics, Mintegral, Meta, Appier, READYgg, FUTURA Digital, Gamerji, ScroogeFrog, Reliance Games, Aghanim, New Dimension Technologies, and Global Game Jam.

To register for GameExpo Summit, buy tickets for GameExpo, and for more information and updates on the full Dubai Esports & Games Festival 2024, please visit the DEF website.