The gaming world in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is buzzing with excitement as the finalists for the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025 have officially been revealed. These prestigious awards, set to take place during the highly anticipated Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025, recognize the outstanding talent, creativity, and innovation shaping the future of gaming in the region.
Taking place on Thursday, May 8th, the awards ceremony will serve as a central highlight of the Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025, giving attendees exclusive access to witness the announcement of this year’s winners. The awards celebrate a broad spectrum of the industry—from indie developers and publishers to service providers and investment pioneers—across 13 distinct categories.
Each finalist was selected through an extensive industry nomination process and is currently being evaluated by a panel of seasoned gaming experts.
Highlighted Categories and Finalists
Dubai Games Star, a category honoring leading contributors to the local ecosystem, features prominent names like BoomLand, DMCC Gaming Centre, Oneness Labs, and Yalla Group.
The Best Games Startup category shines a light on rising stars such as Aya Games, Majestic Mind Games, and Raheebeen Studio, showcasing the region’s entrepreneurial spirit.
In terms of innovation, hubs like AD Gaming, in5 Tech, and NEOM are competing for Best Game Innovation Hub/District, while cutting-edge titles like Veil of Sanity (Sphereka Studios) and SHOTBALL (Naphora) are among the contenders for Most Innovative MENA Game.
Service excellence is also being recognized, with companies like Elevatix, Polygonflow, and Tamatem Plus vying for Best Service Provider.
Arabic localization, a vital element of regional engagement, is spotlighted through nominees such as Babil Games and Tiny Minies Preschool Learning in the Best Arabic Localisation category.
Esports gets its due as well, with the Best in Esports category including heavyweights like Zain Esports, True Gamers, and Emirates Esports Federation (EEF).
The future-facing Best Web3 Gaming award, sponsored by BlockchainGamer.biz, highlights trailblazers in blockchain integration such as Farcana Studio, PlanetQuest, and WEMIX PLAY Center.
Investment firms driving regional growth are acknowledged under Investor of the Year, including Savvy Games Group, Merak Capital, and Shorooq Partners.
For their creative achievements, developers like Tarboosh Games, Mad Hook, and Chickmania are among those shortlisted for Best Developer, sponsored by ID@Xbox. On the publishing side, Tamatem Games, Sawa Group, and Maysalward are in contention for Best Publisher, sponsored by Xsolla Funding.
Game of the Year and Industry Legacy
The coveted MENA Game of the Year award will be fiercely contested by titles such as AFRSHO (Naphora), Jawaker: Games & Friends, DriftX هجوله ملك (UMX), and Nida Harb III (Babil).
Crowning the awards will be the MENA Market Legend, a lifetime achievement accolade honoring an individual who has left a transformative mark on the regional industry. Selected by the organizing committee, this award highlights leadership and long-term commitment to the gaming ecosystem in the MENA region.
As the countdown to May 8th continues, anticipation is growing across the regional and international gaming communities. The MENA Games Industry Awards 2025, embedded within the Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025, promises not only to celebrate the very best the region has to offer but also to set the stage for its future.
