The Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025 took over the city this month, delivering an electrifying showcase of gaming innovation, talent, and investment potential. Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), the fourth edition of the region’s largest gaming event welcomed over 45,000 fans to 12 dynamic events over 17 days. DEF 2025 highlighted Dubai’s ambition to become a global gaming hub by merging family-friendly fun with strategic programming that targeted the full gaming ecosystem—from students and fans to industry professionals and investors.
The festival hosted more than 3.8 million gamers through 90+ tournaments featuring popular titles like EA FC 25, Tekken 8, and Fortnite. DEF’s flagship GameExpo united 34,800 attendees in an immersive weekend experience, with over 130 game titles on display and AED 700,000 worth of prizes awarded. The event transformed Dubai into a citywide gaming playground with interactive zones, cosplay competitions, brand activations, and tournaments streamed via a new partnership with TikTok MENA.
On the B2B front, DEF convened 2,000 professionals from 70 countries and spotlighted 260 SMEs, strengthening Dubai’s position as a regional gaming business hub. GameExpo Summit drew 1,700 industry experts for keynotes and panels exploring AI, Web3, and investment trends, while the PitchPlay and Indie Pitch competitions celebrated emerging developers.
Youth engagement reached new heights with the DEF Education Engagement Programme, involving over 16,000 students and educators. Activities included school tournaments, workshops, and the DEF Education Day, aligning with future-ready skills development and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
DEF 2025 proved to be more than just entertainment—it was a strategic engine for digital innovation, economic growth, and global recognition of Dubai as a premier esports destination.
