Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 full conference schedule revealed!
Over 1,500 attendees will gather in Dubai this May 7th and 8th for the Dubai GameExpo Summit powered by PG Connects.
More than 70 expert speakers will deliver a rich conference programme across eight themed content tracks featuring seminars, panels, roundtables, networking events, the Investment Summit, the MENA Games Industry Awards and more.
Tickets are available now and you can see the overview below or dive into the full schedule on the official event website.
Schedule Overview
Wednesday, May 7th
Day 1 • AM
09:45 – 10:45 State Of Play
Speakers Include:
- Josh Skinner, Sensor Tower
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Facts, figures, and insight into the latest & hottest industry trends from top MENA games companies and beyond.
10:45 – 12:15 The Growth Track
Speakers Include:
- Sham AlBdour, Gamester Kids
- Chirag Chopra, Lucid Labs
- Christian Calderon, Superfine
ESSENTIAL FORWARD PLANNING: Essential insight into user acquisition, retention techniques, and how to grow your game.
12:15 – 13:05 Monetiser
Speakers Include:
- James Hursthouse, Greenstone Initiatices
- Farah Nizar, Golden Lynx
BUSINESS BOOSTING: Make the most of new advertising formats, IAPs and other monetisation developments in this focused track.
Various times Roundtables
Speakers Include:
- Vincent Ghossoub, Nifty Craft
- Hafsa Samahri, wntrmedia
- Matt Pickering, Power League Gaming
- Yousef BuHazza, GameOn Technologies Consultancy
DEEP DIVES: Our interactive roundtable discussions play host to leading experts who share their insights into the most pressing topics with assembled groups of games industry members.
Day 1 • PM
14:00 – 17:00 The Very Big Indie Pitch
PITCHING COMPETITION: Celebrating new indie games! The ever-popular pitching competition is your chance to get instant & constructive feedback on your new game, as well as press coverage, prizes, and valuable contacts.
14:45 – 16:45 The Investment Summit
Speakers Include:
- Mohamed El Sheakh, Games Ventures
- Ozgur Aksoy, Alfa Games
- Nikita Matsokin, MY.GAMES Venture Capital
- Roman Gurskiy, GEM Capital
ESSENTIAL FUNDING KNOWHOW: Learn about the latest trends in finance and gain practical insight into securing funding that will benefit businesses.
16:45 – 17:45 PitchPlay
NEW FOR 2025: Produced in partnership with DMCC and part of the Investment Summit, game entrepreneurs pitch for investment from a panel of experts as part of a dedicated 60-minute session showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of Dubai.
Thursday, May 8th
Day 2 • AM
09:30 – 11:00 The Developer Toolkit
Speakers Include:
- Herman Ahmad, Independent
- Lakhvir Takar, Airship Interactive
- Ashish Daga, Psypher Interactive
PRACTICAL TIPS AND TOOLS: Everything a growing developer needs – essential, practical advice about all aspects of making games.
10:00 – 11:00 Connector SpeedMatch
CURATED MEETINGS: Investors, publishers, developers: meet one-on-one in carefully matched rapid-fire sessions, connecting developers with the right funding opportunities and publishing partnerships all in one focused networking event.
11:00 – 11:40 Publisher Power
Speakers Include:
- Chris Meredith, Xsolla
- Nick Poole, Ukie
- Stuart Dinsey, Curve Games
LEVERAGING YOUR DEAL: Get the most out of your publishing deal and take your game's launch to the next level.
11:40 – 12:10 Powering Payments
Speakers Include:
- David Stelzer, Xsolla
- Rouba Hammoud, Tamatem
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO EARN: Discover how to generate revenue outside of traditional billing methods in new markets and webstores.
Various times Roundtables
Speakers Include:
- Noor Ul Ain Fatima, Bleeding Edge Studio
- Vincent Ghossoub, Nifty Craft
- Asad Ehmed, Epiphany
DEEP DIVES: Our interactive roundtable discussions play host to leading experts who share their insights into the most pressing topics with assembled groups of games industry members.
12:10 – 13:10 MENA Games Industry Awards 2025
CELEBRATE THE BEST: The awards are lobbied for by the industry, voted on by expert judges, with the winners revealed at our ceremony.
Day 2 • PM
14:10 – 16:10 Xbox Discovery Day
Speakers Include:
- Temi Afolabi, ID@Xbox
Developer essentials for Xbox: Designed to demystify the Xbox ecosystem, this event offers practical insights into every stage of the journey – from pitching and securing funding, to technical integration, publishing, and marketing.
16:10 – 16:50 Practical AI
Speakers Include:
- Aaliyah Lee, Agate
AI DEVELOPEMENT KNOW-HOW: Explore AI's role in game development, to enhance player experiences, optimise performance, and efficiently create dynamic, immersive virtual worlds.
16:50 – 17:50 Web3 Wonders
Speakers Include:
- Erinrose Sullivan, Ouroboro
- Melanie Dow, Blockchain Game Alliance
- Omar Ghanam, Gam3s.GG
THE FUTURE OF WEB3 GAMES: What's next for the blockchain gaming scene? Dive deeper into the techniques and strategies that are shaping this growing market.
17:50 Audience Choice Awards Results
Pick the indie game that most impresses you: Play the games in the Big Indie Zone throughout both days of the conference, then vote for your favourite – we'll count all the votes and announce the winner at the end of Day 2!
17:55 Very Big Indie Pitch Results
Support indie development: Join us as we close the conference in what has become tradition – by celebrating the winners of this year's Very Big Indie Pitch at the Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025.
Please note schedule can be subject to change.
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