Don’t sleep on the MENA games market - Why Aqaba should be your next stop

• Discover the world’s fastest growing games market together with 1,000+ of the world’s foremost industry professionals.
• Access global and MENA-based game companies through curated meeting sessions bringing developers, publishers, and investors together.
• Gain cutting-edge insight from outstanding experts via talks and panel discussions on the latest global and MENA market trends.

After highly successful events in past years, anticipation is growing for Pocket Gamer Connects’ return to Jordan (November 8th to 9th) in 2025. New for this time around is the event’s beautiful southern Aqaba location. 

Strategically situated, the city of Aqaba serves as a bridge between the European, Asian and African game markets. As Pocket Gamer Connects returns to Jordan with the new Aqaba event, the region’s growing significance in the international games ecosystem is emphasised.

Marvellous MENA

While the Jordanian games market itself is increasingly impacting the global games scene, the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region has become one of the world’s fastest growing game sectors and a global games industry hub. The games market in the MENA-3 sub-region, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, is projected to grow to $2.8 billion by 2029, hitting 84.3 million players in five years, and a CAGR of 6.8%.

Tap into MENA’s young tech-native talent pool and the sector’s changing demographics, with female gamers now accounting for 37% of this market. A sector which is also growing in financial significance, ARPU is increasing thanks to rising income and localised pricing strategies. 

Above all that, Aqaba offers a sunny, scenic getaway right by the Red Sea. Enjoy a variety of day trips, desert trips and activities like snorkelling in a pleasantly warm climate. 

Where and when?

Join us at Great Arab Revolt Plaza on November 8th to 9th. Optimise new opportunities with two days of essential networking among global and regional industry leaders, insightful expert talks and panels, and a host of tailored business sessions.

Benefit from current Super Early Bird ticket rates - saving you $445 (£330) - by booking today. 

Why you should attend Pocket Gamer Connects Aqaba

• Forge connections that matter - 1,000+ attendees, 100+ speakers, 70% game makers, 50% C-level executives, 30+ countries.

• Explore cross-industry opportunities - Discover the dynamic domestic landscape and its growing prospects in the global tech and games landscape.

• Gain crucial market insight - Multiple tracks covering the latest regional and global industry trends across mobile, PC, console, XR, AI, HTML5 and web3.

• Curated meeting sessions - Numerous tailored sessions connecting developers, publishers and investors to facilitate new business deals.

• Learn from the experts - Meet the pioneers and visionaries of tomorrow’s game sector, and level up your game or business with key knowledge on the latest distribution platforms, monetisation models, payment solutions, tool services, and more.

• Dedicated indie expo - A vibrant showcase zone for indie developers, and pitching competition to discover the next big games coming out of MENA.

Speaker opportunities are currently available for industry professionals interested in speaking at our Pocket Gamer Connects events. You can apply by filling out the speaker submission form, or contact Charlie Scowen at charlie.scowen@steelmedianetwork.com.