In recent years, Dubai has built its status as a top player in innovation, technology, and entertainment. Now the city is turning its eye to another new realm, the gaming industry.
Overall, the global gaming market is projected to hit $200 billion by 2025 thanks to a growth in tech and esports trends as well as mobile. This is an opportunity that Dubai wants to take advantage of and become a major worldwide gaming center.
This led the Dubai Government to launch the "Dubai Program for Gaming 2033" (DPG 2033) whose main structural and strategic elements are: talent attraction, industry development and ecosystem creation.
Attracting Talent
The "Dubai Gaming Visa" is a new residency program designed to bring in gaming talent from around the globe. It offers long-term (10 years) residency for gamers, content creators, developers, and other industry experts, allowing them to live and work in Dubai.
It can be defined as new because it is not tied to common VISA needs like investments or traditional job skills. To be eligible, applicants must satisfy certain conditions that mirror the program's objectives, such as:
- Being at least 25 years old and holding a valid passport
- Providing proof of substantial experience in the gaming field, including roles as a pro player, content creator, developer, or other relevant jobs
- Submitting a Gaming CV
- Educational certifications and evidence of community involvement
- Proof of sufficient financial stability
These criteria ensure that the program draws candidates with not only superior qualifications and skillsets, but also those who have vision and passion to drive the industry forward.
Sustaining the Gaming Ecosystem with Industry Development
Attracting talent is essential, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. The DPG 2033 initiative goes beyond that, focusing on building a sustainable gaming ecosystem that fosters long-term sector growth. This includes incentivising investment, strengthening market infrastructure, and empowering the visionaries driving the industry forward.
As such, the intent is to foster a supportive and mutually collaborative gaming ecosystem via provision of dedicated gaming hubs, esports arenas & innovation labs while simultaneously collaborating between public/private sectors.
This encompasses collaborations with top gaming companies, colleges and industry organisations to help bring innovation and grow the ecosystem.
Building an Ecosystem: Promoting a Gaming Culture
A competent industry is driven by a talented workforce, with the right infrastructure along with unceasing passion and determination from its players and fans.
Dubai is investing in a series of initiatives aimed to manufacture its own gaming culture, such as hosting gaming events, esports tournaments and prove platforms to come together for gamers, as well as promoting the passion of playing video games and support future opportunities in order to help shape a strong foundation for budding talent within the industry.
Conclusion
The Gaming Visa represents more than just another residency program but is a core element of a vision, a strategic step to keep Dubai on top of the world game.
The project represents a seminal moment in Dubai's vision and journey to be home for the global gaming industry, driving forward into the future of games while establishing an incredible legacy that will serve as an inspiration to empower the younger generation.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
