Dubai Gaming Visa: Unlocking New Opportunities for Relocation to the UAE

Recently, Dubai announced the launch of the Dubai Gaming Visa. This initiative was introduced in response to the growing global interest in the gaming industry and esports over the past decade, taking into account the successful experiences of other countries such as the USA, China, Canada, and Sweden.

The main goal of implementing the Gaming Visa is to make Dubai a global hub for the electronic gaming industry by attracting skilled professionals, as well as creators and entrepreneurs in the gaming field.

Today, the gaming industry represents a massive business worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually, which far exceeds the combined revenues of the music and film industries. It’s no surprise that Dubai seeks to become a part of this vast ecosystem. The city’s government has even created a special website to attract talents from various countries, including game developers, esports professionals, and gamification experts, along with a large audience that will attend government events and championships.

It is expected that the Gaming Visa will have a significant positive impact on Dubai’s economy, leading to the creation of more than 30,000 new jobs in the electronic gaming sector by 2033. Additionally, the gaming industry alone is projected to increase the country’s GDP by 3.6 billion dirhams ($1 billion).

What Does the Statistics Say?

According to a BCG report, over 60% of the Middle East population actively engages in video gaming. The region also has one of the highest rates of mobile gaming app downloads in the world.

For instance, this year Riyadh became the host city for the first Esports World Cup (EWC), gathering over a thousand professional players, publishers, and fans from around the globe. The tournament featured leading organizations: T1, FlyQuest, Gen.G Esports, Fnatic, and G2 Esports, with a prize pool of $60 million.

According to a Niko Partners report, the region’s esports-related revenue grew by nearly 8% in 2023, reaching $2 billion. The majority of the revenue came from Saudi Arabia, followed by the UAE, which accounted for roughly one-third of the total amount.

A global survey revealed that the UAE has the highest percentage of adult gamers, with nine out of ten people reporting that they play games, reflecting the highest overall percentage of gaming enthusiasts in the region.
By 2025, the global user base for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) games is expected to reach 216 million content units. Mobile games will still make up the largest portion of this volume. The expected annual revenue for the global gaming market is $503.14 million, but it could grow further due to substantial investments and sponsorship programs.

What to Expect from the Implementation of the Dubai Gaming Visa?

In the short term, an increase in visa applications (by 2–10%) from companies and professionals in the gaming industry is anticipated. This will help create new jobs and stimulate the growth of the technology and entertainment sector in the UAE. Experts predict that from 2024 to 2027, the gaming market in the UAE will grow at an annual rate of 5.4%, with the number of video game users reaching 1.7 million.

In the medium term, significant growth in the gaming industry can be expected, including an increase in international events, conferences, and the development of infrastructure related to gaming and esports.

Concerning the long term, the initiative may stimulate an influx of fresh ideas and innovative approaches, thereby strengthening the UAE’s position. This is largely relevant to the field of video game development, esports, digital content, and interactive media.

The implementation of the Dubai gaming visa will attract high-income individuals, positively impacting the purchase and rental of real estate in the emirate, as well as the development of the tourism industry. More importantly, such an initiative will significantly bolster the UAE’s position as a hub of innovation and technology in the Middle East.

Advantages of the Dubai Gaming Visa

Although the initiative to introduce the Dubai Gaming Visa was approved quite recently, a number of its advantages for individuals can already be highlighted:

• long-term residence (up to 10 years) in one of the most stable and safest countries in the world;
• accreditation certificate that acknowledges the professionalism of participants in the gaming industry;
• career opportunities: the possibility to get a job in a large company with a high level of income;
• networking opportunities: access to an active community of gamers, developers, and industry leaders;
• modern infrastructure: world-renowned gaming venues and Dubai’s cutting-edge technologies create ideal conditions for industry professionals.

Criteria for Obtaining a Dubai Gaming Visa

To obtain a Dubai Gaming Visa, applicants need to be aware of several key requirements:

• Minimum age – 25 years;
• resume that verifies relevant work experience;
• obligatory condition: the applicant must be a game developer, designer, programmer, or digital content creator.

The government aims to attract only highly qualified specialists and promising professionals ready to make a significant contribution to the development of the industry.

The introduction of the Gaming Visa is an important step towards establishing Dubai as a global hub for the gaming industry. If the program is successfully implemented, a substantial increase in both financial and other indicators of the country is expected by 2033.

The future of the gaming world is in Dubai! Although some issues related to obtaining this type of visa are still under discussion, you can already leave a request for a Dubai Gaming Visa.

The Visa Services specialists will gladly provide you with all the necessary information and help you become one of the first fortunate holders of a Dubai Gaming Visa.

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