Nominations open for the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025

• 12 categories honouring game developers, publishers, esports, regional initiatives, and more
• Prestigious 'MENA Market Legend' showcases individual achievement
• The winners to be unveiled during the Dubai GameExpo Summit in May

After a successful launch last year the prestigious MENA Games Industry Awards are back for 2025.

The awards celebrate the best studios, games, initiatives, and individuals driving the industry forward in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Nominations are now open for the 12 award categories, which cover the key players at the heart of the thriving MENA games ecosystem.

The nomination phase remains open until March 20th and the winners will be unveiled live on stage during Day 2 of the GameExpo Summit 2025 powered by PG Connects (May 7th to 8th). 

The Dubai GameExpo Summit takes place alongside the larger Dubai Esports and Games Festival event, in partnership with the Dubai Economy & Tourism department, to bring an unmissable games conference experience to the glorious city of Dubai, in the fastest-growing region of the international 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 considerable success, influence, and impact despite its relatively recent arrival within the industry.

Best Games Startup
Any MENA games company established for 24 months or less that has significantly evolved its business and made an impact on the industry through innovation, creativity, and other initiatives, but it 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 gaming 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 Arabic Localisation
This accolade awards companies that have supported games in localisation over the last year, ensuring that 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 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
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
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 games 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 to 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. 

Shortlists will then be voted on by the judging panel from with the winners unveiled at a celebratory awards ceremony on May 8th during the Dubai GameExpo Summit.