Amin Abbas

The third and biggest edition of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2024, organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), concluded with resounding success and record-breaking visitor numbers. The 17-day event brought together more than 34,000 gaming fans of all ages and levels for an action-packed calendar of events, workshops, competitions, conferences, and educational sessions. Over 90 games were played on 265 machines during the region’s biggest ever and most exciting esports and games festival, including three unreleased titles, four new indie beta games launched in partnership with Dubai NEXT, and one world premier.

Families, gamers, students, and industry professionals discovered one-of-a-kind gaming experiences, joined and watched thrilling tournaments, witnessed cutting-edge game reveals and enjoyed meetups with gaming legends. The incredibly popular Festival also brought together 2,000 global and regional industry players, cementing Dubai’s position as a regional hub for the industry.

DEF 2024 represented a landmark event in Dubai’s mission to cultivate the growth of its gaming industry. The festival marked significant progress in delivering the objectives of Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to further consolidate Dubai’s position as one of the top three global cities for business and leisure, support SME growth, drive technological advancements, and foster Dubai’s economic development through digital innovation. The dynamic line up of events also empowered aspiring and emerging gaming talent, and promoted thriving careers in esports to foster the growth of the industry across the UAE.

Commenting on the successful conclusion of DEF 2024, Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “The Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2024 was our biggest, longest, and most exciting edition yet, marking an incredible milestone in Dubai’s mission to be a year-round global hub for esports and gaming. Throughout 17 days, families, gamers, and professionals joined this citywide celebration of gaming culture, showcasing their skill, strategy, and dedication, while also connecting with like-minded enthusiasts from across the world. DEF 2024 ventured into new innovative areas of gaming and esports experiences, providing a valuable platform for all to learn from experts, inspiring the next generation of up-and-coming gamers, and empowering these communities to thrive. We are proud to have showcased the convergence of innovation with gaming, esports, and entertainment, while driving promising investment and growth opportunities across our region”.

A highlight of the festival was the return of the DEF GameExpo, which welcomed more than 28,000 visitors from over 100 nationalities across three fun-packed days at the Dubai World Trade Center. Fans, gamers, and families enjoyed access to a variety of exciting zones, including the du Gaming District, where the freshest game releases and previews were explored; the Future Zone, which was home to cutting-edge tech gaming ideas; and the Retro Zone, where nostalgic games of the past were played. Visitors took a piece of the fun with them from The Narrows, a buzzing shopping zone where gaming artists showcased their crafts; while the Electric Avenue showcased all the latest tech available for purchase. The first-ever Emirates NBD Family Zone brought excitement for young gaming fans who could go head-on with their families on the Magic Planet Arcades and Nongshim family challenges. Visitors also recharged at the talabat F&B zone with a variety of food and casual eats.

Cosplayers had the opportunity to show off their creations in the Dubai Cosplay Catwalk and Championship, supported by COMICAVE™ and The Little Things as part of the DEF GameExpo. More than 70 entries were received across both competitions, judged by international and UAE-based cosplayers. Winners took home cash prizes worth a total of AED 8,000.

Huge prizes worth more than AED 70,000 were awarded during 16 exhilarating tournaments and championships. More than 3.6 million players gathered from across the region to embrace the thrill of gaming across Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, Valorant, Brawl Stars, Yalla Ludo, and Dominos Pro.

DEF GameExpo was hosted with the support of Dubai Next, Dubai Police, Dubai Sports Council, in partnership with du, Emirates NBD, talabat, Samsung, Rove, Red Bull, VOX, Nongshim, Virgin Radio, Tik Tok, and Jio Games.