From passion to $50,000 payouts: Inside UAE's booming gaming scene

3…2…1 K.O!

And I know I’m defeated. My opponent has administered the final punch.  But I’ll still choose the same player and go for another round.

I grew up playing Mortal Kombat and Tekken, thanks to my cousins. I was eight when I started playing the first, and eleven, when I tried the second. I couldn’t get the names right, so I would invariably call the sinister masked Sub Zero ‘Freezer’ owing to his ability to literally ice out the opponents. I don’t think I grasped the controls: I just pressed the buttons wildly and was excited at the outcome. Quite often, I would win, and even I didn’t know why. I won by using a panda, and my exasperated cousins would say, “At least try to use the right controls.”

Two decades later, my husband installed Mortal Combat again on our playstation. Between 1999 and 2023, needless to say, there had been a quantum shift in character development and pixels, but not in my ability to play. I still hammer the controls in excitement, because it’s just that fun. I choose the princess Kitana from Mortal Combat, and still haven’t learnt how to use her fan-wielding powers. But hey, she looks good when brandishing a fan.

Somehow, I was better at gaming at eight than I’m at 33.

I wouldn’t call myself a seasoned gamer, though. Not to my husband, and definitely not after speaking to the UAE residents, who not only are experienced players, but they also have a strong grounded understanding of how the games work, to the point, that they’ve even made their own. Everyone has their own reason for why they love the game: It’s the adrenaline rush, it’s the relaxation, or it’s the immersive storytelling.

Some like being taken through the story. Each level is like a chapter that unfolds.

For instance, before you start playing It Takes Two, you’re introduced to the story and setting: A little girl named Rosie is upset that her parents are planning to divorce. And so, her tears turn them into doll versions of themselves, where they have to mend their marriage and heal, as they try to escape different environments, ranging from the shed to the laundry room.

It’s why people like Carine El Natour, a Dubai-based professional enjoys it: “I personally love any games with good storytelling and graphics, because they allow you to get lost in a different world. It's kind of like watching a movie or reading a book, except it's a lot more interactive and sometimes even gives you control of how the story will play out,” she says.

The creators of It Takes Two have developed another game titled Split Fiction. El Natour explains the plot: it follows two writers—one who specializes in fantasy, evoking a Harry Potter-like atmosphere, and the other in science fiction. They visit a publishing house that promises them book deals, only to be placed into a machine that makes them experience their own stories firsthand. However, a malfunction traps them inside, forcing the two writers to journey through both of their fictional worlds together.

Dubai-based Tazeen Jafri, who cheerfully says that she ‘comes from a family of gamers’, has similar sentiments.  “I enjoy story-based, single-player games, especially ones that combine strategy, puzzles and a bit of mystery,” she says. Jafri relishes the idea of a strong narrative, stunning visuals, and references golden favourites like Uncharted and Tomb Raider. “I love the games that make you laugh, and Monkey Island is a good example of that.”

Games like Uncharted and Tomb Raider, are her favourites; as they are a blend of mythical and the historical world.

These are games that are pull you into a different universe. That’s an escape in itself.

Some stories have a strong, piercing emotional pull. One, would be, Ghosts of Tsushima, the story is as layered and nuanced as a book: The island of Tsushima has been invaded. It’s a brutal and bloody war, and the island falls to invaders, with the lead character Jin, son of the head Samurai, injured and left for dead. And he has to finally win his land and pride back. It's intense, exhausting, but the triumph is unparallelled.

It's easy to see why 19-year-old Shamaela Zainab loves it. Zainab, who plays different games, ranging from the ever-popular Minecraft, to Roblox, returns to Ghost of Tsushima. “Ghost of Tsushima really stands out to me, it feels like stepping into a samurai movie. The visuals are stunning, the combat is smooth, and the story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. It’s a game that respects your time,” she says.

With such games, you aren’t just playing. You are the character and you live the story.

And when storytelling has the whiff of adventure, why stop, especially when you're sailing through the high seas? And that’s what 21-year-old Osaja Abbas enjoys. Fast-paced action- adventures, and the list includes Sea of Thieves, Dying Light, and Apex Legends and Valorant, which, I’m told is one of the most popular games today.

Right now, it’s Sea of Thieves that has him most hooked. “There’s just something exciting about the pirate theme,” he says. “Sailing out on adventures, hunting for treasure, dealing with ship damage, making repairs, and fending off attacks, t’s all about surviving and adapting, which makes it really immersive and fun.”

For Abbas, it’s not just about gameplay, it’s the unpredictability, the thrill of the unknown, and the need to stay sharp under pressure that keep him coming back for more.

You can rediscover connection, with a little help from gaming, as Dubai-based Rana Wagih Afifi can attest. “What excites me most is reconnecting with my online friends,” she says. “I’ve made such wonderful friendships through gaming. We play whenever we can, and since most of the games are team-based, there’s always a sense of camaraderie and healthy competition.”

Afifi prefers the shared experience; you share so much more, when you're on a team. “It’s really lovely to play with close friends. The games we enjoy are adventurous and cooperative, I don’t like playing solo.”

There’s also a special kind of joy in attending gaming events and conventions like Comic-Con, she adds. When gaming goes beyond the screen, when it becomes something you experience in real life with others—there’s a kind of peace in that, too.

12-year-old Jad Fassi Fehri is straightforward and doesn’t need to have a preamble about why he loves gaming: “I got into the platform called Discord, and I joined a server where I saw currency is everything, so I decided that I wanted to be the richest. So, I got things that people wanted and sold them on the auction and then when I was rich enough, I started gathering teammates. Keep in mind that this was a server, that almost had no rules. So, I decided that I am going to become the builder that never scams and takes on any job-building massive bases for everyone.” He adds: This is the Minecraft server.

As he explains later, it all started, owing to a YouTube video, which took him to Discord. “Anything you can imagine comes true,” he emphasises.

Tarek Hakim, senior account manager at BPG, prefers games that can be enjoyed in relatively short bursts like Hades 2 and Balatro. “I find gaming to be a form of meditation, it allows me to unwind and hyperfocus on one activity. It basically resets my thoughts while actually having fun,” he adds.

Some play the game, some make it. And Dubai-based Kanessa Muluneh is in the second category. The founder of Rise of Fearless,  Muluneh’s pride in her newly-launched Battle Royale game echoes through our conversation. The idea took root on her TikTok channel and gradually developed as she decided to zero in on the Battle of Adwa, a historic chapter in Ethiopian history, where Africa emerged as the victor against Italian colonialism.

Muluneh stresses that this is more than just a game: “It’s designed as a platform for empowerment. Players can earn as they play, and my focus is especially on young people. In many parts of Africa, opportunities often feel distant or inaccessible. With this project, I want to unlock doors that many never imagined were within reach,” she says.

So what happens in the game? Players buy, sell and trade in-game assets. Moreover, the elements in the game promise to also help income-generating activities, for those across the continent. Her plans don’t stop there: She wishes to take this forward, and foster more engagement and knowledge among communities.

Gaming can be done alone. And gaming is also about community, finding people in these parallel worlds, befriending them as you traverse the virtual adventures and horrors together. It's where you make your friends, and maybe a few enemies too.

As game creation and player communities evolve, so does the competitive scene—especially in the UAE and the wider Middle East. Kevin Sebastian, who was born and raised in Dubai and is also one of the minds behind Hobby Nation, a reputed gaming, pop-culture platform, breaks down the entire gaming scene across the UAE and Middle East.

Sebastian, whose journey began with playing Mario at arcades as a child, turned into a full lifelong passion as he found himself in the heart of the gaming industry. Explaining how gaming is so much more than just pressing controls, he says, “The gaming and esports scene across the UAE and the wider Middle East has seen exponential growth in recent years, with several high-profile competitions offering significant prize pools and attracting both amateur and professional players.”

Moreover, among the most prominent is the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is also currently the largest esports event globally in terms of prize money, offering over $60 million in 2024. “It features global titles such as EA FC, Fortnite, League of Legends, Valorant, PUBG, and Dota 2, and includes open qualifiers alongside invitations for elite regional teams. Closely linked to this is Gamers8, also hosted in Riyadh, which combines entertainment with elite-level competition and has distributed over $45 million in prize money over the past two years,” he explains.

Bringing it home to the UAE, he adds, “Local competitions are often organised through platforms which are professional gaming companies, government entities or local gaming cafes, these are both professional and casual. These events usually offer prize pools ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, and participants can register by seeing tournaments being promoted on Instagram channel.”

Personally, having gone from competitor to someone who's working in the video game ecosystem, he adds that participation is relatively accessible for aspiring players. “Most tournaments use digital platforms such as Toornament.com, Challengermode, or FACEIT for registrations. Publishers and regional organisations also manage community Discord, which is a platform where games talk to each other, servers where players can join tournaments, receive updates, and even form teams.”

As he concludes, undoubtedly, the Middle East has become a serious player in the global esports ecosystem. With continued investment from governments, the private sector, and international publishers, competitive gaming in the region is not only offering large-scale prize money but also opening grassroots opportunities for players to find viable careers.

Starting with  the world-building magic appears to be the advice from most of the gamers. Jafri explains, “Start with what you already have, whether it’s a laptop, a console, or even just a basic PC. There are tons of beginner-friendly games out there. If you’re on PlayStation, try Fall Guys or Brawlhalla. If you’re on PC, something like Monkey Island or even Minecraft is a great place to begin. These games are easy to get into but still offer fun and creativity. Don’t worry about getting the “perfect setup” right away. See what kind of games you enjoy first, and then upgrade your gear gradually as you go.”

On the other hand, Abbas advises a more-action oriented game such as Counter Strike. “It’s a classic shooter and a great way to get into the rhythm of online games. But if someone prefers story-driven or adventure games, then Dying Light is a great choice—it combines survival elements with both an engaging storyline and multiplayer gameplay.”

And, if you do get into platforms like Discord, enjoy yourself, but be a little wary, too, warns Rana Wagih Afifi. "Join lots of Discord chats to learn more about the communities. That way, you can also make friends early on, because playing solo can quite irritating, especially if the teams you play with, are toxic. When you have a friend, at least they back you up."

14-year-old Sajjad Haider from Dubai has a little more to say. “Just start with a game that looks fun to you. You don’t need to be good at it right away. Pick a console you can buy, maybe some free games first, and learn as you go. It’s all about having fun.”

It's all about having fun. That's always a good start.