News
May 19, 2026
Dubai Films & Games Commission and Good Game Club podcast partnership to redefine games as a force for good
New strategic headline partnership puts Dubai at the centre of a global movement driving the positive impact of video games
LOS ANGELES, USA/DUBAI, UAE – May 19, 2026 – The Dubai Films & Games Commission is stepping up its ambition to build a games industry defined by positive impact by announcing a strategic headline partnership with the Good Game Club podcast at GamesBeat Summit 2026 in Los Angeles.
The partnership positions the Dubai Films & Games Commission at the centre of a growing global movement around the positive cultural, economic and societal impact of video games, joining Good Game Club’s existing founding partner Tencent.
Launched earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Good Game Club is hosted by industry leaders Jude Ower MBE, CSO at PlanetPlay, and Mathias Gredal Nørvig, CEO of SYBO. Building on their bestselling book Gaming For Good, the podcast brings together voices from across games, culture, business and policy to examine how video games are shaping modern life.
Later in 2026, this work will be extended through the launch of the Good Game Club Academy, supported by founding partner Tencent. Designed to move the conversation from insight to implementation, the free, industry-wide Academy will bring together evidence, tools, research and real-world case studies to help studios act on the opportunities explored through the podcast and accelerate positive change across the video game ecosystem.
The partnership reflects Dubai's commitment to its creators and its community, and a belief in the impact games can make. By taking a long-term approach and benefiting from a rapidly expanding developer ecosystem, Dubai is building the conditions for talent to imagine, create, and call the emirate ‘home.’ The wider Middle East is one of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally, driven by a young, highly engaged player base and increasing demand for content, talent and infrastructure.
Faisal Kazim, Games Commissioner, Dubai Films & Games Commission, said:
“Dubai's vision is to establish the emirate as a global capital for the creative industries, and games are at the heart of that ambition. Our partnership with the Good Game Club reflects a shared commitment to building a gaming sector with a focus on cultural exchange, one that nurtures talent, welcomes studios entering the region, and emphasizes the role games play in people's lives. Hosting these conversations in Dubai is part of a larger ambition to make the emirate the place that connects the world through games.”
Jude Ower, host of the Good Game Club podcast, said: “This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for the Good Game Club podcast, which reflects the vision we share with the Dubai Films & Games Commission to redefine games as a force for good. The Commission is not just investing in games as an industry, but in the role games can play in shaping people, culture and society. By establishing Dubai as our regional home, we’re bringing the global conversation about games directly to one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and a primary destination for building the future of games.”
The gaming industry has emerged as one of Dubai’s fastest-growing sectors, with more than 350 companies already operating there. Dubai is targeting 30,000 new jobs and a $1 billion contribution to GDP by 2033. Across the wider region, the value of the gaming market in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt is expected to reach $2.8 billion by 2029, with more than 84 million players.
The announcement of the partnership was made during a panel session at the GamesBeat Summit 2026, hosted by Susanna Pollack, President of Games For Change in conversation with Faisal Kazim, Jude Ower and Mathias Gredal Nørvig. A recording of the panel will be released as an episode of the Good Game Club podcast on 22 May 2026.
The Good Game Club Academy will begin rolling out later this year. To sign up for early access to the free industry-wide resource, join the waitlist, visit www.goodgame.club/academy
The latest episode of the Good Game Club podcast can be watched here. For more information, please visit Linktree or contact comms@goodgame.club.
