- Dubai now hosts 350+ gaming companies, including 260 specialized developers—a 16.6% growth since DPG33’s November 2023 launch.
- The initiative aims to make Dubai a top-10 global gaming hub, add $1B to GDP by 2033, and boost its digital economy.
- Focus areas include talent development, content creation, tech innovation, and hosting major gaming events and partnerships.
On June 9, the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33) announced that Dubai currently houses more than 350 companies, with 260 of them categorized as specialized game developers. This indicates a growth rate of 16.6% since the launch of the program in November 2023, further contributing overall to a global industry valued at USD 200 Billion. The gaming industry has turned into one of Dubai’s most promising economic sectors in recent years. Data shows that more than 60 new gaming companies have established themselves in Dubai since the launch of DPG33. Of these 60 new companies, 12% are large global ones.
“Dubai Is a Land of Opportunity”: Dubai Future Foundation CEO
Through the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, Dubai aims to position itself as one of the world’s top 10 global gaming hubs. Nurturing talent, creating content, and advancing and improving technologies are the three main areas that DPG33 is focusing on. The program also aims to host a variety of local and international events, exhibitions, and partnerships to strengthen the collaboration between numerous stakeholders in Dubai and other countries.
DPG33, overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), was set up with the aim of significantly boosting the gaming sector’s contribution to the growth of Dubai’s digital economy and increasing the GDP by approximately USD 1 Billion by 2033.
Dubai Future Foundation CEO Khalfan Belhoul noted that the recent achievements in the gaming sector reflected 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." He acknowledged the unprecedented economic potential of the gaming sector and stated that Dubai will always be a land of opportunity and a top destination for innovators.
“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),” he added.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, launched the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 in November 2023. The program seeks to position Dubai among the top ten cities in the global gaming industry and generate over 30,000 new jobs in this sector in the coming decade.
