News

Dubai-Based Angel Investor Fuels Growth For GameCentric

The platform aims to triple its user base across the MENA region, a market projected to reach 88 million gamers by 2026.

Published

3 years ago

February 23, 2024

Joanna Melki

dubai-based angel investor fuels growth for gamecentric

GameCentric, a leading gaming platform in the MENA region, has secured a substantial USD 1.5 million (AED 6 million) investment from a Dubai-based Angel Investor, Bilal Merchant. The platform went live on December 1st, 2023, immediately following the funding round.

The infusion of capital strategically positions GameCentric to expand its platform and features beyond the GCC & MENA region, promising to redefine the gaming landscape for players worldwide.

Saad Khan, CEO of GameCentric, emphasized, “Crafting a robust vision for our platform, supported by a sound business model and a seasoned management team, resonated with the angel investor, like Bilal Merchant, who recognized the immense potential within GameCentric, which drove his decision to invest. Our aspiration is not just to be a gaming platform but a cultural phenomenon transcending borders. Collaboration with industry leaders, community-driven programs and an unwavering commitment to having the best user experience drives our future initiatives”.

GameCentric plans to integrate cutting-edge technologies to stay competitive and offer compelling propositions for brands and game publishers. By 2025, the company aims to become a web3 native platform, introducing digital assets such as cryptocurrencies.

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

Supporting its ambitious expansion plans, GameCentric has gathered support from industry heavyweights, including LIV, the UAE’s first digital bank powered by Emirates NBD, and Saudi eSports organization POWReSports.

The platform is now poised for aggressive growth and market expansion over the next two years. The company aims to triple its user base across the MENA region and double its array of game titles, catering to both web2 and web3 genres. This initiative not only enhances the gaming experience but also offers innovative customer engagement opportunities for brands.

News

For etisalat, More Bandwidth Is A Matter Of Digital Sovereignty

The etisalat group plans to expand its international capacity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, with new routes designed for speed and resilience.

Published

2 days ago

October 6, 2026

Nour Nasir

for etisalat, more bandwidth is a matter of digital sovereignty

Emirates News Agency

By 2030, etisalat group plans to lift its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps), more than 25 times the 20 Tbps it has today. The group presented the expansion as preparation for rising AI demand and an important move for the UAE’s digital sovereignty.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, witnessed the launch of the project, which covers the UAE and international markets. Sheikh Mansour is also Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, etisalat group’s main shareholder.

He emphasized the role of coordinated national efforts in advancing the UAE’s AI and digital economy ambitions. “AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward,” he said, adding that developing the country’s digital capabilities would empower every institution, public and private, to build and innovate with AI “at the scale the coming decade will demand”.

“This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it,” said H.E Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group. “That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future”. He cast greater international connectivity as a strategic answer to the challenges of processing and moving data globally.

Also Read: RØDE’s Low-Profile Studio Arm Is Designed To Stay Out Of Shot

Beyond raw bandwidth, the expansion will introduce new connectivity routes intended to improve reliability and efficiency, and Alzaabi tied them directly to the sovereignty goal. “Delivered through diversified routes and low-latency design, the project is set to keep the country’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient, while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty,” he said.

He also linked the plan to the group’s 50-year commitment to building infrastructure for the nation. The announcement didn’t mention what the expansion will cost. Nor did it name the new routes or say who will build them, the details that would show what digital sovereignty means in practice.