Dubai: The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) is set to launch the fourth edition of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025 on Friday, marking the start of the region's most extensive celebration of gaming and esports, which will captivate fans across different age groups over a span of 17 days.
According to Emirates News Agency, the festival's main attraction, GameExpo, will make a grand return to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 9th to 11th May, presenting eight specially themed gaming zones. Highlights of the event include exclusive meet-and-greet sessions with leading gaming influencers, high-stakes esports tournaments, retro arcade games, Sim Racing, and innovative Web3 gaming experiences.
DEF 2025 is poised to influence the future of gaming through its Educational Engagement Programme, which offers interactive workshops and tournaments for students and educators, presenting them with opportunities to win prizes valued at AED50,000.
In addition, the festival will introduce 'Play Beyond,' a platform for adrenaline-pumping challenges and dynamic matchups featuring top gaming influencers. Renowned content creator AboFlah is set to return to the stage, while esports professionals compete for the esteemed Play Beyond trophy.
Alongside the gaming festivities, the GameExpo Summit will occur on 7th and 8th May at the Dubai World Trade Centre, gathering over 100 global industry experts. The summit will delve into emerging trends in gaming, such as AI, Web3, mobile gaming, and the swift expansion of the MENA region's gaming ecosystem.