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10 - 11 Nov 2026

Abu Dhabi, UAE

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09:00
KEYNOTE
REGISTRATION & COFFEE
THE NEXT FRONTIER OF GAMING TECH
09:50
Welcome to the Future: Global Games Show - Vision 2033
  • Master of Ceremonies
10:10
KEYNOTE
No One Is Coming to Save You: Why the Future of Gaming Belongs to the Builders
Speaker:
  • Shawn Layden, Managing Partner, The Odysseus Partnership
10:30
PANEL DISCUSSION
2026 Gaming's Big Bet: Can the Next GTA Make Play-to-Earn Real
Speakers:
  • Kanessa Muluneh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rise of Fearless
  • Shawn Layden, Managing Partner, The Odysseus Partnership
  • Shervin Farigam, Co-Founder, Coinfactory
Moderator:
  • Sara Essa, Presenter/Broadcaster & Founder, Women in Sport MENA & Padel Collective
11:25
KEYNOTE
The Future of Gaming Engines: Unreal Engine 6 and Beyond
Speaker:
  • Shawn Layden, Managing Partner, The Odysseus Partnership
11:50
SPOTLIGHT KEYNOTE
The Power of Influence: How Creators Are Redefining Game Growth and Player Acquisition
Speaker:
  • Georg Broxtermann, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, GameInfluencer GmbH
12:10
KEYNOTE
AI Gen Game Design: Can Machines Replace Human Creativity
Speaker:
  • Denise K. Záles, Chief Executive Officer, KNOWN
GAMING IN THE METAVERSE
12:30
FIRESIDE CHAT
Investing in Immersive Ecosystems Gaming Projects: Potential & Challenges
Challenges:
  • Sébastien Borget, Co-Founder, The Sandbox
Moderator:
  • Omar⁩ Rahim, Founder, Arena Two
12:55
PANEL DISCUSSION
How UAE is becoming a Global Hub for Esports Tournaments
Speakers:
  • Muna Al Falasi, Director Esports & Games Strategy, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
  • Mohammed Yaseen, Founder, Esports & Gaming Association UAE
  • Vikas Goel, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, EsportsXO
  • Vlad Belianin Co-Founder - Chief Product OfficerTrue Gamers
Moderator:
  • Sara Essa, Presenter/Broadcaster & Founder, Women in Sport MENA & Padel Collective
THE BILLION-DOLLAR BATTLEFIELD
13:45
PANEL DISCUSSION
The Rise of Cross-Platform Play: How to Build Games for a Unified Player Base
  • Technical challenges of cross-platform ecosystems
  • Payments, accounts, identity unification
  • How publishers can build cross-platform economies
  • Investment opportunities in cross-play tools & studios
Speaker:
  • Saad Hameed , CEO & Co-Founder, Game District
Moderator:
  • Baz Nijjar, Vice President – Education Technology & Digital Innovation, GEMS Education
14:40
Panel Discussion
The Billion-Dollar Arena: Unlocking Value in Competitive Gaming
Speakers:
  • Denise K Zales, Founder / Chief Executive Officer, KNOWN
  • Brittany Kaiser, Chief Executive Officer, AlphaTON Capital
  • Omar⁩ Rahim, Founder, Arena Two
Moderator:
  • Basma Nourani, Chairman, PBN Investments
15:25
SPOTLIGHT KEYNOTE
How AI and Analytics are Revolutionizing Esports Strategies
Speaker:
  • Yat Siu, Co-Founder & Chairman, Animoca Brands
15:45
FIRESIDE CHAT
Mind Over Console: How Neural Interfaces are Transforming Game Access for All
  • Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO, GOQii
Moderator:
  • David Lolaev, Founder, Sal'Ad Labs
16:05
FIRESIDE CHAT
Beyond the Screen: How Games Will Rewrite Entertainment, Fashion & Culture by 2030
  • Cathy Hackl, Tech & Gaming Executive and Chief Executive Officer, Future Dynamics
Moderator:
  • Motasem Migdadi, Chief Executive Officer, Innoverse Group
16:25
PANEL DISCUSSION
Breaking into Untapped Gaming Markets
  • Elie Honain, Chief Executive Officer, NES
  • Kishan Deepak Palija, Chief Executive Officer, Geekay Group
  • Sultan Al Riyami, Outreach Section Head, AD Gaming
Moderator:
  • Sara Essa, Presenter/Broadcaster & Founder, Women in Sport MENA & Padel Collective
16:25
Panel Discussion
Breaking into Untapped Gaming Markets
Speakers:
  • Hussam Hammo, CEO & Founder, Tamatem Games,
  • Nour Khrais, Founder & CEO, Maysalward
  • Elie Honain, CEO, NES
Moderator:
  • Sara Essa, Presenter
17:00
CLOSING REMARKS & END OF DAY 1
09:00
REGISTRATION & COFFEE
09:45
Welcome to the Future: Global Games Show - Vision 2033
GAMING FRONTIER: AI INNOVATION & GLOBAL REACH
10:00
PANEL DISCUSSION
AI & Future of Game Production: Navigating Emerging Trends & Technologies
Speakers:
  • Omar Ghanem, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, GAM3S.GG
  • Daniel Wang, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aethir
  • Tung Nguyen-Khac, Co-Founder, VIZTA Digital
Moderator:
  • Georgina, Master of Ceremonies
10:50
Keynote
Beyond Translation: Culturalization and Localization Strategies for AI-Driven Experiences.
  • Nour Khrais, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Maysalward
11:15
FIRESIDE CHAT
From Studio Garage to Greatness: Inspirational Indie Game Journeys
Speaker:
  • Jonathan Bouzanquet, Founder & CSO, PLAYA3ULL Games
Moderator:
  • Georgina, Master of Ceremonies
11:50
KEYNOTE
How AI Is Shaping the Creative Process in Game Development
CTRL + SECURE
11:50
FIRESIDE CHAT
AI: The Next Great Tech Expansion
Speakers:
  • Daniel Reis-Faria, CEO/Founder, ZeroStack (FLGC) / Erebor Capital
Moderator:
  • Nagham Hassan, Founder, Bintcoin.
12:20
KEYNOTE
How Esports, Simulation, and AI Are Creating New Pathways into Motorsport
  • George Zhuravskiy, Co-Founder, Racecraft Limited
12:45
PANEL DISCUSSION
The Global Impact of Mobile Esports Tournaments
Speakers:
  • Teemu Koski, Chief Business Officer, NODWIN Gaming
  • Mario Pérez Guerreira, Chief Executive Office MENA, GGTECH Entertainment
  • Mohammad Majali, CEO, FATE Esports
Moderator:
  • Georgina, Master of Ceremonies
13:35
FIRESIDE CHAT
Scaling the Next Generation of Game Studios: Lessons from Emerging Markets
Speaker:
  • Karn Chakerverty ,Founder & CEO of Kult Games
Moderator:
  • Dariia Vasylieva, Founder, GETVISION
THE GAMERS MIND
THE GAMERS MIND
14:10
PANEL DISCUSSION
The Future of Entertainment: Global Investment Opportunities Redefined
Speakers:
  • Marcos Muller-Habig, Sector Enablement Director, Abu Dhabi Gaming
  • Ashesh Shah, Chief Commercial Officer at VERO Labs, Inc. and Board Member, Bit Reactor
  • Jasper Hu, Principal Solutions Architect, PingCAP
  • Joseph van Heeswijk, CEO, 2Game Esports
Moderator:
  • Tess Hau, Founder, Tess Ventures
15:10
FIRESIDE CHAT
What Can Startups Learn From the Most Funded Gaming Projects
Speaker:
  • Michail Katkoff, Founder, Deconstructor of Fun
15:15
FIRESIDE CHAT
Beyond the Screen: Inside AR/VR’s Takeover of Entertainment by 2030
GAMING COMMUNITY
17:00
Global Games Show Awards
LUNCH BREAK
GAMING COMMUNITY
15:45
keynote
Edge of Innovation: Building the Infrastructure for Real-Time, Cross-Platform Gaming
Speaker:
  • Noor Ul Ain Fatima, Co-Founder & Chief Gaming Officer, Bleeding Edge Studio
16:05
PANEL DISCUSSION
From Screens to Worlds: The Next Era of Immersive, Persistent, Player-Driven Universes
  • Noor Ul Ain Fatima, Co-Founder & Chief Gaming Officer, Bleeding Edge Studio
  • Dylan Yarbrough, Head of Research & Operations Beam Ventures
  • M Das, Founder, COBOX
  • Karn Chakerverty ,Founder & CEO of Kult Games
Moderator:
  • Julia Upiterskaya, Founder, Juls
17:00
CLOSING REMARKS & END OF DAY 2

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