Dubai’s push to position itself as a global gaming hub gained momentum as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME) concluded the inaugural edition of its GameForward accelerator program, with three Emirati studios receiving grants and two securing PlayStation publishing partnerships.

As part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai SME launched the program to support the commercialization of homegrown gaming ventures and strengthen Dubai’s position within the global gaming ecosystem.

The program supported 16 Emirati-led studios representing 25 founders and concluded with a Demo Day and awards ceremony attended by gaming industry experts, publishers, investors, and strategic partners. Participating founders presented market-ready gaming concepts, signaling a shift from early-stage creative projects to scalable commercial ventures.

Three winning studios received grants backed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SMEs (MBRF). The grants were presented by His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, Chairman of the Dubai Gaming Committee and CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, to help accelerate production, publishing, and market entry.

The initiative also opened international publishing opportunities for Emirati developers. Through GameForward, the title Cosmic Galaxy secured a PlayStation publishing partnership, joining two other Emirati studios in the program that also became official PlayStation partners.

Launched in strategic partnership with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, GameForward aligns with the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33) and the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 while strengthening its role as a hub for high-growth digital and creative industries.

The initiative also supports the objectives of the Dubai Films and Games Commission, which operates under the Dubai Media Council and oversees the development of Dubai’s film and gaming sectors.

“Dubai is building more than a gaming sector – it is building an ecosystem where creative talent, entrepreneurship and market opportunity can translate into globally competitive businesses,” said His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul.

“The success of GameForward demonstrates the strength of Dubai’s approach: connecting Emirati founders with world-class mentorship, publishing pathways and commercial opportunities that accelerate growth beyond the local market.”

Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, said the program reflects Dubai’s long-term strategy to transform Emirati creativity into commercially viable businesses.

“The outcomes of this first cohort demonstrate that with the right infrastructure, partnerships and market access, Dubai-based studios can compete internationally and secure meaningful industry opportunities,” he said.

“At a time when global markets are evolving, Dubai continues to provide a stable, business-friendly environment that supports innovation, investment and growth.”

The GameForward program was designed to equip Emirati developers with technical expertise, business-readiness skills, and studio-building capabilities to support commercially viable game development and the creation of intellectual property.

Participants received training in game design, monetization, publishing, go-to-market strategy, user acquisition, and investor pitching, alongside mentorship from global gaming experts and ecosystem support through Dubai Founders HQ and international partners.

According to Dubai SME, several participating teams evolved from passion projects into operational studios with structured production plans and commercial ambitions. Three teams have already reached the soft-launch stage, while several games are expected to launch within the next year.

A total of 13 industry partners contributed to the program by providing mentorship, technical support, publishing guidance, and ecosystem benefits to connect Emirati founders with global publishers, investors, and gaming specialists.

GameForward forms part of Dubai SME’s wider mandate to accelerate Emirati entrepreneurship and support the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, including launching 8,000 new Emirati businesses by 2033 and increasing the number of supported enterprises to 27,000.

The initiative also contributes to the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, which aims to position Dubai among the world’s top 10 cities for the gaming industry.

Building on the success of the inaugural cohort, GameForward is expected to expand its industry partnerships and talent pipeline as Dubai continues investing in its gaming and digital economy ambitions.