Dubai has flicked the switch on its developing gaming industry as it targets 30,000 new jobs and a $1bn GDP boost from the sector by 2033.
The Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033 “DPG33” has announced that Dubai is home to more than 350 gaming companies, with 260 of them categorised as specialised game developers, contributing overall to a global industry valued at $200bn globally.
Since the programme’s launch in November 2023, more than 60 new companies have been established in Dubai of which 12 per cent are large global companies — marking a growth rate of 16.6 percent since the launch of the programme.
Dubai gaming industry
The gaming industry has emerged as one of Dubai’s most promising economic sectors in recent years.
Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said: “The recent achievements in the Dubai’s gaming industry reflects the success of the city’s vision for its future economy — one built on economic diversification and the proactive investment in current and future development opportunities.
Belhoul added: “The gaming sector holds unprecedented economic potential, and Dubai was — and will remain — a land of opportunity and a destination for innovators and creators. The industry offers a wealth of unprecedented opportunities thanks to the supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovative ideas in advanced technology sectors, particularly game development, which is a key driver in enhancing Dubai’s global competitiveness and in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).”
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, launched the Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033 in November 2023, to position Dubai among the world’s top 10 global gaming hubs over the next decade, with 30,000 new jobs and a $1bn boost to GDP by 2033.
DPG33 focuses on nurturing talent and entrepreneurship, embracing technological advancements, and fostering digital content development, while creating training and employment opportunities with leading global firms and academic institutions, and leads a variety of local and international events, exhibitions, and partnerships that strengthen collaboration between individuals, businesses, and regulatory bodies in Dubai and beyond.
