In partnership with AD Gaming, Sharaf DG and Uprizing Events Management

• Three-day Anime and Gaming Con to take place from 7-9 October
• Esports tournament winners to receive up to 40,000 AED worth of prizes from Sharaf DG and AD Gaming including VIP experience and tickets to the highly-anticipated Blast Premier World Finals in Abu Dhabi in December 2022
• Free-entry event to feature esports tournaments, gaming giveaways, retro gaming arcades from Action Zone, cosplay competitions and parades, sporting tournaments including dodgeball, lasertag, bowling, board games, artist showcases and expert panels to discuss the opportunities in Abu Dhabi’s thriving gaming industry
• Adult and children’s cosplay competition winners to receive complimentary tickets from Air Arabia and other prizes from Lootah Perfumes and Comicave
• Giveaways include: free access to Al Ain Mall Ice Rink during the event days, 1 month free water from Al Ain Water and movie tickets from Star Cinemas

Abu Dhabi, 04 October 2022 – AD Gaming, the initiative driving Abu Dhabi’s fast-growing gaming industry, and Al Ain Mall, have announced the upcoming Al Ain Mall Anime and Gaming Con, offering a unique experience for gaming and pop culture fans across the country.

The free-entry event will be held from 7-9 October 2022, featuring a range of exciting activations, competitions and tournaments for all ages. The convention will feature gaming giveaways, a retro gaming arcade, cosplay parades and competitions, and expert panel discussions that will highlight the opportunities within Abu Dhabi’s thriving gaming industry.

Supporting the emirate’s broader efforts to build Abu Dhabi into an international esports hub, the convention also will hold a range of esports tournaments for games including including Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Valorant and FIFA 23. Ahead of the Blast Premier World Finals, the global esports calendar’s highest-profile Counter Strike: Global Offensive tournament, which will be held in Abu Dhabi in December 2022, AD Gaming will be giving away money-can’t-buy VIP experiences to the final to winners of the various esports tournaments taking place at the Anime and Gaming Con.

Morhaf Kishi, General Manager at Al Ain Mall, said: “Al Ain Mall, the first super regional mall in Al Ain has always been a pioneer in introducing and hosting one of a kind unique experiences to the city of Al Ain. We are excited to welcome over 100 local pop culture vendors and artists, more than 300 gamers, vloggers and influencers, and over 100 cosplayers to the first ever Anime and Gaming Con to take place in the garden city of the UAE.”

James Hartt, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Business Development at AD Gaming, said: “Abu Dhabi’s gaming and esports industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, increasingly contributing the the emirate’s broader economic diversification strategy. Abu Dhabi, and particularly Al Ain, is home to an incredibly passionate community of gaming and pop culture fans, which is why events such as this Anime and Gaming Con are so important. By supporting the local gaming and esports communities, we look to spark a passion for a career in video game development and esport tournament production that will, in turn, support the long-term sustainable growth of the emirate’s gaming industry.”

Nilesh Khalko, CEO at Sharaf DG, said “Al Ain Mall partner Sharaf DG is keenly invested in the future of gaming and as the region’s preferred electronics destination, we are delighted to be part of this key gaming initiative to herald the brightest minds and brands in the region. We hope to collectively empower the young and the young at heart with technologies that drive the boom and lend themselves to experiential gaming.”

AD Gaming is a collaborative initiative that brings Abu Dhabi’s gaming sector under one roof, allowing for a concerted effort in growing the economically significant sector. The initiative is currently supported by over 25 partners including Unity Technologies, Flash Entertainment, UAE Pro League and Emirates Esports Federation.