Dubai: Dubai has marked the conclusion of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF 2023) and is celebrating record visitor numbers, with more than 26,000 people visiting the five day festival. The Vox Gaming Theatre engaged gamers during the Play Beyond tournament featuring beloved influencers in a Regional Team, composed of four influential gamers from the Middle East and including the charismatic team captain AboFlah (Instagram: @aboflah) and an International Team, consisting of four renowned influencers from different corners of the world and captained by MiniMinter (Instagram: @MiniMinter). Families, friends and gamers, also enjoyed a diverse range of events at the region's biggest ever and most exciting esports and games festival, held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City, Dubai. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, DEF 2023 was designed to cater to every gaming passion and had something for all visitors with casual gamers, esports enthusiasts, and seasoned industry professionals immersing themselves in the world of gaming. Gamers transformed the development of the gaming technology landscape with over 75,000 of the best local and global gamers participating in a variety of esports tournaments and games at the event. The dynamic line up of events included pulse-pounding tournaments and mind-bending virtual reality experiences. A focal point for the convergence of innovation in the gaming and esports sectors, DEF 2023 celebrated and empowered gaming talent, fostering the growth of esports communities in the UAE and throughout the world. Held from June 21 to 25 June this year, the incredibly popular DEF 2023 featured the GameExpo Summit, GameExpo, Regional Tournaments and the new Play Beyond tournament with the South Halls of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, filled to capacity and transformed into a gamer's paradise. The festival and summit brought players of all ages together to enjoy incredible experiences and some of the latest and biggest games in the world.  DEF 2023 kicked off with the GameExpo Summit, powered by Pocket Gamer Connects (PG), with more than 1,800 high profile attendees enjoying over 50 engaging sessions, panels, and talks by over 100 industry thought leaders and government agencies. Cementing its reputation as the region's premium games industry and B2B knowledge platform, over 2,000 meetings were held using the ‘MeetToMatch' system, with 38 investors and developers meeting on Investor Connector to elevate the gametech sector in the UAE. Dubai's biggest gaming weekend happened at GameExpo with an unmissable line-up of 14 esports competitions including high-octane Play Beyond Tournaments, all-time gaming classics at the Retro Zone, cutting-edge gaming products and the latest games, including 11 newly released games. Eager gaming fans, families and the public played 57 unmissable games with attendees immersing themselves in the world of virtual reality, with gaming enthusiasts connecting in the Dubai Police Esports Arena and more than 40 exhibitors, including industry giants such as Xbox, Ubisoft and Capcom. Official leading UAE-based sponsors included Du, Emirates NBD, KitKat, Emirates, VOX Cinemas, Rove Hotels, Alienware and Virgin Radio Dubai with Ubisoft, Capcom and Teleios displaying their latest games in the du Gamers District. In addition, more than 3,200 students attended the exclusive ‘schools only' days aimed at promoting careers in gaming and driving a passion for esports at the grassroots. The exhilarating second edition of DEF 2023 transformed Dubai into the epicenter of the esports and gaming industry, cementing its position as a global destination for enthusiasts worldwide. The festival catered to gamers, families, friends, industry professionals and esports experts with the aim of uniting and developing the gaming and esports communities in Dubai and the region with next year's dates confirmed for 1 to 5 May 2024.

Dubai: The Dubai Esports and Gaming Festival (DEF 2023) reached new heights of excitement and entertainment on its fourth day, leaving attendees in awe of the incredible experiences offered. As the festival entered its penultimate day, gamers and enthusiasts from around the world flocked to the South Hall 1 of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, for an unforgettable gaming extravaganza.Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Day 4 of DEF 2023 commenced with a mesmerizing performance by the Cosplay Idol Group on the main stage, showcasing their incredible talents and bringing beloved characters to life. Sumi Cosplay took the stage, captivating the audience with their stunning cosplay artistry and immersive performances. The passion and dedication exhibited by these talented cosplayers left spectators inspired and in awe.One of the highlights of the day was the highly anticipated Cosplay competition, where participants displayed their extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship, wowing the judges and onlookers alike. From intricate costumes to breathtaking performances, the cosplayers left a lasting impression, making it an exhilarating competition to remember.In addition to the Cosplay competition, Dubai Police hosted the FIFA 23 and Valorant Tournaments where skilled virtual footballers and FPS players showcased their talents in intense matches. The crowd was on their feet, cheering for their favorite players as they displayed exceptional skills and strategic gameplay with the conclusion of the Dominos Pro regional final.The Play Beyond tournament took center stage on the Mainstage, featuring a clash of gaming titans from around the world. Influencers from both the Regional Team and the International Teams battled it out across multiple genres, showcasing mind-blowing gameplay, awe-inspiring skills, and epic moments that left spectators in awe. Such as the beloved influencer MiniMinter (Instagram: @miniminter), who added an extra layer of excitement to the event, in addition to Grant (Instagram: @granthinds), the gaming superstar Demisux (Instagram: @demisux) and gaming tournament expert Granthinds (Instagram: @granthinds). Also AboFlah (Instagram: @aboflah) was there from the Regional Team alongside Saeed Wolf (Instagram: @saeed.wolf), Bashayer (Instagram: @_.gh/), an influential figure in the gaming community known for her impressive gaming skills, and Basharkk (Instagram: @basharkk) where fans will also have a chance to see them on the final day of the festival.From intense matches in games like Fall Guys, Fortnite, Rocket League, FIFA 23 with finals for Overcooked, Street Fighter 6, and Call of Duty today. The influencers left no stone unturned in their quest for the coveted Play Beyond Trophy.As the Play Beyond tournament unfolded on the main stage, attendees were immersed in a world of intense competition, surprises, mid-game challenges, and stoppage time. The energy in the Gaming Theatre, in association with VOX Cinemas, was electric, creating a thrilling and unforgettable experience for all.With only one day remaining, Dubai Esports and Gaming Festival promises an epic finale on 25 June, where attendees can continue to immerse themselves in the world of gaming, experience captivating tournaments including Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the finals of

The inaugural Dubai Esports Festival (DEF 2022) was inaugurated today by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, at Expo City Dubai.The 12-day event, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, is being hosted by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) in partnership with VSPN, a global leader in e-sports activities and solutions, and presenting partner du.The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME; Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE); Chenfan Wang, Vice President, General Manager of Global Business at VSPN; and Ibrahim Al Mayahi Al Nuaimi, Vice President of Brand and Marketing Communications at du.Commenting on the launch, Al Olama said, “The UAE had consolidated its status as a leading global destination for new concepts and a champion of innovation, as it continues to attract international talent to analyse technology trends and opportunities to accelerate change to design a better future.”Al Olama noted that DEF 2022 would see the highest number of leading adult gamers convening in one place this year, underscoring the UAE and Dubai’s status as the most competitive gaming destination. “The event will bring together the world’s greatest gamers, developers, creatives and artists, allowing Esports fans to meet and engage with global gaming celebrities and industry leaders, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a hub for innovation,” he added.The Festival kicked off with the oversubscribed “Initiate Summit”, a two-day groundbreaking B2B knowledge and networking platform for e-sports and gaming industry professionals, developers and creatives.The Initiate Summit highlights Dubai’s role in championing the creative industry, including esports, through various incentives for international talent and organisations in the emirate. In addition, industry trends will be discussed, including emerging technologies, mobile gaming, investment opportunities, consumer behaviour, gamification and tournament organisation, among other current topics. Gaming developers and publishers, esports organisation founders, solution providers, as well as marketers and members of the gaming media, will make up the Initiate Summit’s impressive line-up of speakers.The Festival will bring together international gaming celebrities, industry leaders, developers, creatives and artists and feature an exciting line-up of live events and activations, concerts and competitions, including the highly anticipated PUBG Global Championship 2022, GameExpo, PopConME, Initiate Summit, Wegz live in concert, regional tournaments and Minecraft Esports Schools Clash, as well as retail promotions taking place across the city showcasing the latest games and merchandise.