MENA Games Industry Awards 2025 Announced Winners

Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 officially announces the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025 winners.

The ceremony highlighted outstanding talent across the Middle East and North Africa's growing gaming sector.

The awards recognised excellence in 13 different categories after a thorough nomination and voting process conducted by industry experts.

DMCC Gaming Centre emerged as a major winner, taking home both the Dubai Games Star and Best Game Innovation Hub/District awards.

The DMCC Gaming Centre, launched in November 2022 by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), is a hub designed to support the growing gaming and esports industry in the MENA region. Located in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) free zone, it hosts over 80 gaming companies, including developers, publishers, esports teams, and tournament organisers.

MJ Fahmi received special recognition as MENA Market Legend, an award sponsored by PocketGamer.biz.

Fahmi is a Jordan-based entrepreneur and gaming industry leader, best known for co-founding Babil Games LLC in 2012 with his brother, AJ Fahmi.

Tamatem Games received the award for best publisher. This Jordan-based mobile game developer and publisher was established in 2013 by Hussam Hammo, with a focus on localizing and publishing international mobile games for the Arabic-speaking market in the MENA region.

Their game, Tamatem, also known as the Land of the Brave, clinched the top honor, winning GOTY. This MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) immerses players in a fantasy realm where they must combat dark forces to restore peace. Players can select from various fighter classes, customize their characters, and participate in PvP battles, team-based challenges, and exploration quests.

The game stands out in the Arabic gaming market with its anime-style graphics, diverse combat mechanics, and strategic gameplay. It has become popular for its rich storytelling, character customization, and multiplayer interactions.

Here's a complete list of all winners across the 13 categories:

• DUBAI GAMES STAR: DMCC Gaming Centre

• BEST GAMES STARTUP: Majestic Mind Games

• BEST GAME INNOVATION HUB/DISTRICT: DMCC Gaming Centre

• MOST INNOVATIVE MENA GAME: AFRSHO (Naphora)

• BEST SERVICE PROVIDER: Xsolla & Niko Partners

• BEST ARABIC LOCALISATION: Tamatem Games

• BEST IN ESPORTS: True Gamers

• BEST WEB3 GAMING: The Game Company

• INVESTOR OF THE YEAR: Exel by Merak (Merak Capital)

• BEST DEVELOPER: Jawaker

• BEST PUBLISHER: Tamatem Games

• MENA GAME OF THE YEAR: Tamatem

• MENA MARKET LEGEND: MJ Fahmi

Source: Pocketgamer