In an effort to meet the growing gaming demands in the Middle East, Game Insight, a global leader in mobile and social games, has Arabized its games.
The launch comes at a pivotal time as Dubai positions itself as a major hub for the gaming industry in the Middle East. Reports suggest that the Middle East is responsible for more than $ 100 million in revenues from the online gaming industry, with the UAE having one of the largest shares in the industry. At 74 percent, the UAE has the highest smartphone penetration rate in the world, another contributing factor to the growth in the gaming industry.
Recent figures reveal that there are 1.6 billion online gamers worldwide of which 38 percent are from the Arab world. As the Middle East continues to grow experts predict that by 2015 internet users in the Arab world will reach 150 million users from the current 70 million.
“The gaming industry in the Arab world has been developing for several years and we are seeing an increase in popular international games being localized, showing there is a demand,” said Darya Trushkina, VP Business Development, Game Insight. “This is the perfect time to not only bring new games but to Arabize some of our most popular ones. Localized games for Arabic users are already available at App stores in UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”
In light of the growth in the region, Game Insight (Hall 8, Stand 508) will participate at the upcoming Dubai World Game Expo on November 18 until 19 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The company will focus on its web, mobile and social media games in the region, discussing localization and future plans.
Airport City one of the company’s most popular games, available for iOS and Android devices has an overall international audience of 27.5 million players and currently has more than 35 million installations on all platforms. Airport City revolves around building a fully-fledged airport including buildings, terminals, landing strips, staff and planes.
“There is no doubt that the Middle East is the fastest growing gaming industry globally. Moreover, the market is poised for more growth. We are excited about the huge potential that users in the region represent,” said Trushkina.
