I Was AFK Because I Was at the Dubai Esports and Games Festival
Keyboards clacking, headphones on and full game face ready! If you know what I’m talking about, then there’s a good chance you’re also a gamer like me.
And let me tell you, every gamer in Dubai looks forward to one event each year – the Dubai Esports and Games Festival! Just imagine over two weeks of activities, events and games while meeting some of the region’s best gamers.
You’d want to go AFK on this one because I gathered all the information you need to know about the Dubai Esports and Games Festival!
DEF Is a Two-Week Extravaganza
The Dubai Esports and Games Festival is an annual gaming festival that was founded in 2022 to attract both local and international gamers and gaming enthusiasts.
The first official festival was attended by more than 100,000 gamers and guests from around the world. The five-day extravaganza was filled with shows, games and events happening around Dubai.
After the success of its first two events, DEF is back in 2024 with a 17-day event celebrating the booming gaming industry and making sure that Dubai becomes the gaming capital of the Middle East and the world.
The Dubai Esports and Games Festival happens between May and June every year and it’s an event that gamers, gaming enthusiasts and spectators look forward to.
Admission to DEF started at AED 150 and a ticket gives you full access to the Game Expo, which is the main attraction of the entire festival.
The Game Expo Is the Highlight of DEF
While the entire festival runs for over two weeks, the highlight has to be the GameExpo, which takes place for three days.
This year, the event was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and it was filled with product exhibits, gaming zones, meet-and-greet with local and global gaming celebrities and of course, thrilling competitions.
Believe me when I tell you that the GameExpo is all of your gaming dreams coming true. Just imagine getting to watch your favorite global gamers fight each other in a live arena.
No more screens and conversations over headphones because now, you can see the action right before your eyes! Oh, and don’t forget to bring your merchandise to be signed by your favorite gamers.
But that’s not all because the expo is also divided into several stations that you could explore throughout the day. Let me just tell you to prepare yourself for some big ticket purchases while you’re here!
For starters, you have the Gaming District where you’ll see the hottest game releases – even those not available on the general market yet – and even get the chance to try them out before buying them.
If you’re looking for a new PC, keyboard, console or accessories for your gaming setup, you’ll be spoilt for choice here.
There’s also the Retro Zone that takes you back to old school gaming and the Future Zone that explores the future trends in the world of gaming and tech.
The Family Zone is a must-see if you’re taking the entire family with you or you’re just looking for games that everyone can enjoy.
Don’t forget to stop by The Narrows and prepare to burn some cash with some very unique gaming merchandise created by talented artists from around the world.
And you can’t miss the pros going at it at Play Beyond. This exciting arena hosts live gaming competitions with pro teams going up against each other.
Now if you like dressing up, the expo also has cosplay competitions where you can showcase your favorite gaming characters and get a chance to win amazing prizes while you’re at it!
But the summit isn’t just for fun because you can also participate in panel discussions, listen to keynote speeches from industry experts and be part of networking sessions.
Here, you get valuable knowledge about the gaming industry that you can use in honing your craft or even starting your own business if you want to.