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Abu Dhabi To Develop $1 Billion eSports Island Facility

Positioned along the picturesque Al Raha beach, the venue is poised to become a focal point for gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

Published

2 years ago

March 27, 2024

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi uae to develop $1 billion esports island facility

True Gamers

Despite the economic slowdown of global eSports, the Middle East has emerged as a beacon of innovation and investment, particularly in infrastructure aimed at attracting top talent. According to a report by BCG, the region’s population exhibits a remarkable fondness for gaming, with over 60% actively participating and some of the highest figures of mobile game downloads in the world.

The latest addition to the UAE’s burgeoning eSports landscape is Abu Dhabi’s ambitious eSports Island project. Positioned between the Al Bandar and Al Dana developments along the picturesque Al Raha beach, the island is poised to become a focal point for esports enthusiasts worldwide.

True Gamers — a key player in the gaming industry — has pledged a substantial investment of $280 million to develop Abu Dhabi’s eSports Island. Upon completion, the project is anticipated to cost a staggering $1 billion.

true gamers esports island details

The island will boast state-of-the-art amenities geared towards training aspiring eSports professionals and hosting international tournaments. The GG Bootcamp, equipped with cutting-edge gaming infrastructure, will provide a comprehensive training facility, dedicated rest areas and even nutrition programs.

At the heart of the eSports Island lies the True Gamers (TG) Arena, envisioned as a premier venue for hosting high-profile competitions with thousands of spectators. Adaptable spaces are designed to cater to various gaming formats and genres, and the arena will also serve as a hub for digital exhibitions and conferences. Additionally, the Digital Tower will offer a collaborative workspace for developers, and the island will host tourists and event goers in 200 rooms with in-built gaming computers.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Video Games Set In The Middle East

Establishing an eSports hub in Abu Dhabi will reinforce the UAE’s position as a global market leader, capitalizing on the region’s growing appetite for gaming. As international tournament organizers increasingly focus on the Middle East, the unveiling of Abu Dhabi’s eSports Island heralds a new era of innovation and growth for the industry.

Related Topics:Abu Dhabi eSports Gaming True Gamers

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Samsung And Spotify Offer Free Premium Deal In MENA

Nearly seven in ten streams in the region come from 18-to-34-year-olds — the audience Samsung is hoping to entice into its ecosystem.

Published

6 days ago

August 7, 2026

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Samsung has announced a partnership with Spotify spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, bundling Spotify Premium with select devices across its ecosystem. The headline offer — up to four months of Premium for free — is a first for the region.

Customers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Türkiye who buy any OLED or 98-inch television, or any Galaxy S or Z series mobile device, get four months of Spotify Premium. The offer, tiered by market and device, is available at retail and on Samsung.com, and redeemed through the Samsung Promotion and Samsung Members apps.

For Samsung, the strategy is less about free music than about lock-in. The Korean tech giant’s pitch is continuity: a track starts on a Galaxy smartphone through Galaxy Buds on the commute, moves to a Samsung TV and soundbar in the living room, and stays controllable from a Galaxy Watch. The more seamlessly music travels between those devices, the harder it becomes to swap any one of them for a rival’s.

“Technology should bring people closer to the things they love, and few things connect people the way music does,” said Omar Saheb, Regional VP of Marketing and Online Business at Samsung Electronics MENA. The partnership, he added, gives customers “a genuine reason to choose Samsung for the experience, not only the product”.

Also Read: Shokz OpenFit Pro Review: Open-Ear Audio Finally Grows Up

For subscribers, Premium brings the usual package: ad-free listening, offline downloads, richer audio quality on Galaxy Buds and Samsung sound devices, and Jam, which lets friends build a shared queue.

“At Spotify, we are always working to make every listening moment feel more personal, meaningful, and worth it,” said Rami Jamal, Head of Partnerships at Spotify for South Asia, Middle East, and Africa.

The demographics go a long way to explaining the strategy. Across MENA, Türkiye, and Pakistan, nearly seven in ten Spotify streams come from listeners aged 18 to 34, according to the company — precisely the audience Samsung wants inside its hardware ecosystem before buying habits harden.