Don’t miss the chance to be considered for the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025

• 13 categories honouring game developers, publishers, tools, monetisation services, investors, and more
• The winners will be revealed at the Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 on May 8

The prestigious MENA Games Industry Awards 2025 are coming!

These awards celebrate the best businesses and individuals who are advancing the games industry in the Middle East and North Africa region. Nominations are now open for 13 award categories that cover all aspects of the flourishing MENA games ecosystem. 

But be quick – nominations close on Thursday, March 27!

The awards will be held live on stage during the Dubai GameExpo Summit at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Their purpose is to highlight the game developers, publishers, monetisation services, tool providers, investors, and legends who are contributing to the vibrant growth of the games market in the MENA region.

The GameExpo Summit powered by Pocket Gamer Connects will take place on May 7 – 8, 2025, alongside the larger Dubai Esports and Games Festival in partnership with the Dubai Economy & Tourism Department (DET) to bring an unmissable games conference experience to the vibrant city of Dubai, in one of the fastest growing regions of the games industry.

Here’s the list of categories you can submit your nominations for:

Dubai Games Star
This special award recognises a Dubai-based games company that has demonstrated a considerable amount of success, influence, and impact despite its relatively recent arrival within the industry.

Best Games Startup
Any MENA games company that has been established for 24 months or less has significantly evolved their business and made an impact on the industry through innovation, creativity and other initiatives – but has not necessarily brought a game to market yet.

Best Game Innovation Hub/District
Showcasing the innovation hubs that support developers with centres that cultivate creativity, enable locally produced content, and accelerate the MENA games space.

Most Innovative MENA Game
Any MENA-based game released in the past 18 months that pushes the boundaries of the game dynamics – whether through play mechanics, technical achievements (or use of technology itself), and more – to deliver a unique experience for players.

Best Service Provider
This accolade is for companies that support the MENA ecosystem through dedicated service provisions – monetisation, analytics, middleware, advertising, localisation, marketing, legal, etc – thereby helping developers create their games and grow their audience.

Best Arabic Localisation
This accolade awards studios that supported games last year in the areas of localisation, ensuring that both new releases and updates go live with as few hiccups as possible and are localised appropriately for target MENA markets.

Best in Esports
This award recognises and celebrates the most impressively implemented and strategically sustained MENA esport-related support service of the past 18 months.

Best Web3 Gaming
Showcasing the company that is bringing the most impactful use of, or support for, web3 technology to the MENA game development scene.

Investor of the Year
This award showcases an investment within the MENA games industry that has played a vital role in the success and growth of a company in the region during the past 18 months.

Best Developer – sponsored by ID@Xbox
Any MENA games company that has released a game or successfully grown an existing game during the past year, as well as expanded their business and made an impact on the industry through innovation, creativity and other initiatives.

Best Publisher – sponsored by  Xsolla
Celebrating a MENA company that has assisted developers in releasing a game during the past 18 months, whether through publishing support, marketing, co-development, or investment.

MENA Game of the Year
This award recognises the finest game experience released in the past 18 months based on creativity, play mechanics, technological, artistic and aural achievement, innovation, audience engagement, and both critical and commercial success. To be eligible for this award, games must have been given a full release, received a significant update, or maintained substantial live ops activity during the January 2024–April 2025 period.

MENA Market Legend
This illustrious lifetime achievement award recognises a person from the MENA region who has achieved a considerable amount of success in their career and has acted as a pioneer in and made an outstanding contribution to the regional games space.

The MENA Market Legend is a special award selected directly by the organisation committee of the MENA Games Industry Awards.

Nominations for all of the above are NOW OPEN via simple online submission forms. But hurry, nominations close on Thursday, March 27. Submissions after this date will not be counted.

The judging panel will then vote on shortlists from with the winners unveiled at a celebratory awards ceremony on May 8 during the Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025.

Visit the awards website today to nominate your favourite games, companies, tools, and leaders for consideration. The esteemed MENA Games Industry Awards aim to showcase the region’s exceptional talents on a global stage, giving them the recognition they truly deserve. Don’t miss this opportunity to shine a light on the best in the industry!