Development
Dubai is open for business, and Xsolla is helping build All The Things
May 20, 2026•3 min
The Middle East has long been one of gaming's most-watched growth markets. Now, with a landmark new partnership between Xsolla and the Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC), it's becoming one of its most connected.
Announced on May 20, 2026, the multi-year strategic alliance brings together two organizations with complementary and ambitious mandates. Xsolla contributes its global commerce infrastructure: direct-to-consumer storefronts, intelligent payments spanning 1,000+ methods across 200+ geographies, and a suite of player engagement tools refined over years of powering game studios worldwide. DFGC brings its institutional weight, its growing ecosystem of regional developers, and a clear government-backed mission to make Dubai a world-class hub for game development and publishing.
"The games industry is increasingly shaped by markets that invest seriously in building the right commercial infrastructure," said Rytis Joseph Jan, SVP of Global Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships at Xsolla. "Dubai has made these investments for the future of the industry. This partnership is about converting that ambition into real, lasting opportunity for developers based here and for the international studios who want to be part of what is being built."
It's a sentiment echoed on the Dubai side. "For the Dubai Films and Games Commission, this partnership is a direct expression of our mission to make Dubai one of the world's leading destinations for game development and publishing," said Faisal Kazim, Games Commissioner at the Dubai Films & Games Commission. "Xsolla's global reach and commercial infrastructure give our market something it has not had before: a proven, scalable pathway to the world."
Want to learn more about this alliance? Schedule a call with an Xsolla expert!
What's Actually Being Built
The practical outputs are substantial. A joint studio accelerator program will launch in Dubai, giving regional developers structured support and access to Xsolla's global network. The organizations will co-produce market intelligence on the games industry, authoritative data that has been largely missing from an underreported but fast-moving region. They'll also host flagship events and open reciprocal pathways between the organizations' networks, creating a genuine two-way flow of opportunities between MENA and the rest of the world.In Their Own Words
"The games industry is increasingly shaped by markets that invest seriously in building the right commercial infrastructure," said Rytis Joseph Jan, SVP of Global Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships at Xsolla. "Dubai has made these investments for the future of the industry. This partnership is about converting that ambition into real, lasting opportunity for developers based here and for the international studios who want to be part of what is being built."
It's a sentiment echoed on the Dubai side. "For the Dubai Films and Games Commission, this partnership is a direct expression of our mission to make Dubai one of the world's leading destinations for game development and publishing," said Faisal Kazim, Games Commissioner at the Dubai Films & Games Commission. "Xsolla's global reach and commercial infrastructure give our market something it has not had before: a proven, scalable pathway to the world."
Why Now?
The timing reflects genuine momentum. UAE consumer engagement in gaming is strong, government investment in creative industries is rising, and Dubai is increasingly functioning as the organizational center of gravity for the broader MENA games scene. As Berkley Egenes, Xsolla's Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, put it: "The MENA region is one of the fastest-growing video game markets right now, and Dubai is at the center of this growth. Together, we are building all the things to help local developers of all sizes turn regional success into global reach." The announcement also builds on a growing relationship between the two organizations. At this year's GamesBeat Summit, Kazim and Egenes participated in the Global State of Play panel, examining key trends reshaping the games industry worldwide, a conversation that reflects the peer-level engagement underpinning this partnership.
The Bigger Picture
What the partnership ultimately builds is an infrastructure, commercial, relational, and institutional, for a regional industry that is ready to scale. Both organizations expect to announce further details on joint programming and regional activations in the months ahead.Want to learn more about this alliance? Schedule a call with an Xsolla expert!
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