Gamers, mark your calendars! Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2025 (DEF) is back from 25 April to 11 May, and it’s going to be bigger and bolder than ever.
The festival will feature city-wide gaming activities and competitions across mall gaming zones and VR entertainment centres in Dubai, along with the festival's flagship events including the GameExpo, GameExpo Summit and other events.
On 8 May, there will be sessions dedicated to students and educators, focusing on the career journey and prospects in the gaming industry, happening at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The GameExpo Summit will take place at DWTC on 7 and 8 May, focusing on the business side of gaming and bringing together investors and experts to discuss the future of gaming and emerging technology trends.
The headline event, GameExpo, will run from 9 to 11 May at the DWTC, with eight themed gaming zones including esports tournaments, a Retro Zone, Sim Racing and Web3 Gaming.
There’s also something new this year at the GameExpo: an interactive challenge zone called 'The Quest' to test the players' real-life skills and a dedicated 'Just Dance Zone' with live dance-offs and competitions. GameExpo will also include the 'Play Beyond' event on 10 and 11 May, where gaming pros battle it out along with interactions about the latest game releases, with gaming influencers like Abo Flah.
On 11 May, GameExpo will also see the Dubai Cosplay Championship, offering cash prizes of up to Dhs 30,000 for the most creative and detailed costumes. Big esports fans can look forward to competitive matches in League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, and FC25, while families can head to the 'Emirates NBD Family Zone' for interactive gaming experiences, from Xbox to Nintendo Switch, all happening at the GameExpo from 9 to 11 May.
Three-day passes to GameExpo are available with tickets starting from Dhs 49 for students and Dhs 99 for adults. One-day passes, family bundles, and limited VIP tickets for influencer meet-and-greets are also available.
For more information or to book your tickets, visit DEF's official website.