Enhance your games industry knowledge with these top tracks at the GameExpo Summit
This May 7–8, the Pocket Gamer Connects team are again partnering with the Dubai Economy & Tourism department (DET) to bring the global games industry an unmissable conference experience right at the heart of the fastest growing region of the international games industry.
The Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 powered by PG Connects takes place over two days alongside the Dubai Esports and Games Festival within the superlative Dubai World Trade Centre. The summit itself will feature more than 70 renowned games industry speakers from all over the globe delivering insightful talks, panels, and seminars across 8 essential, themed tracks.
You can expect discussions on pressing topics facing the games industry such as new technologies from the metaverse, AI and web3 to the latest approaches, techniques, and trends in development and monetisation, as well as the opportunities relating to the unprecedented growth of the MENA market.
Plus don’t miss our new addition for 2025: The Investment Summit will cover all essential funding-related aspects from the perspective of games companies.
Our format is deliberately quick-fire to squeeze as much content as we can. Typically a single session will be around 20 minutes long, with 40-50 minutes allotted for the expert panels.
Web3 Wonders
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.
00:00–00:00 | Day X | Track Room X
Take your blockchain strategy to the next level
Discover what lies ahead for the blockchain gaming scene and delve into the transformative techniques and strategies shaping this freshly-invigorated market. Ownership, decentralisation, NFTs and more: elevate your gaming strategy with talks and panels covering web3 technology, and hear from experts who are shaping the way games are played and monetised.
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
State Of Play
INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Facts, figures and insight into the latest & hottest industry trends from top MENA games companies and beyond.
00:00–00:00 | Day X | Track Room X
Facts and figures from MENA and beyond
Explore the dynamic landscape of gaming with State of Play. Delve into the latest and hottest developments, facts, and figures from leading MENA games companies and beyond. Gain valuable insights into emerging trends shaping the gaming industry. Stay ahead of the curve with exclusive analysis and perspectives on the ever-evolving gaming ecosystem.
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
Game Maker Insights
HANDS-ON ADVICE: Case studies from the front line, covering the likes of game design, audio, character design, UX, and narrative
00:00–00:00 | Day X | Track Room X
Hands-on game development insight
Immerse yourself in real-world case studies from the forefront of the industry, delving into diverse areas such as game design, audio production, character design, user experience (UX), and narrative development. Gain valuable insights from these practical examples that showcase successful approaches, innovative techniques, and effective strategies employed by industry professionals. Expand your knowledge and stay inspired by the experiences shared by experts in these key domains of game development and design.
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
The Growth Track
ESSENTIAL FORWARD PLANNING: Essential insight into user acquisition, retention techniques, and how to grow your game.
00:00–00:00 | Day X | Track Room X
Essential UA and retention techniques
In addition to mastering gameplay mechanics, understanding user acquisition and retention techniques is crucial for growing your game. Gain essential insights into effective strategies on how to grow your business in adverse and new environments, optimise your game’s user interface, and continuously analyse player feedback. With these strategies for expanding into new territories and adapting to changing market conditions, you can attract and retain a dedicated player base, ensuring steady growth and success for your game.
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
Practical AI
AI DEVELOPEMENT KNOW-HOW: Explore AI’s role in game development, to enhance player experiences, optimise performance, and efficiently create dynamic, immersive virtual worlds.
00:00–00:00 | Day X | Track Room X
How to use AI in game development
Dive into AI’s pivotal role in game development, crafting immersive virtual worlds, optimising performance, and elevating player experiences. Learn to harness AI tools to push boundaries ethically, while addressing concerns. Explore its evolution in enhancing gameplay, procedural generation, and adaptive systems, unlocking new heights in game design. Embrace AI’s transformative power while navigating ethical considerations to shape the future of gaming.
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
The Very Big Indie Pitch:
Mobile, PC, Console Edition
PITCHING COMPETITION!: Celebrating new indie games! The ever-popular pitching competition returns, with a chance for media coverage, instant feedback and maybe a prize
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Unique indie developer competition based on a speed-dating format that gives each game maker a frantic five minutes (including Q&A) with each panel of experts to make the case for why their title should be judged the winner.
[Please note: for pre-registered and confirmed participants only.]
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
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.
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Investors meet publishers and developers
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
The Investment Summit
ESSENTIAL FUNDING KNOWHOW: Learn about the latest trends in finance and gain practical insight into securing funding that will benefit businesses.
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Investment advice and funding insight
Unlock the secrets of successful investment with The Investor Summit. Stay updated on the latest trends in finance and gain practical insights into securing impactful funding for your business. Receive expert investment advice and discover innovative funding knowhow to propel your venture forward. Don’t miss out on this essential resource for financial growth and success.
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
RoundTable Discussions
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.
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Learning within a relaxed interactive session
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company
Xbox Discovery Day
WONDERS FROM XBOX: Xbox Discovery Day is an essential session for game developers looking to bring their titles to the Xbox platform and delivered by ID@Xbox during Dubai GameExpo Summit 2026 powered by PG Connects.
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Essential sessions for bringing games to Xbox
Includes sessions from:
Name
Company