Kareem Seddik

For nearly my entire career in game dev and technology, the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) has always been treated as a "secondary" region. The unloved, neglected child of consumer markets. The years flew by as we shipped various games, software and consumer electronics, and yet the pattern was the same. Our focus was kept on the "safe" markets of EU, NA and parts of Asia. We consistently and casually glossed over this huge land mass named MENA. Over those years, I never truly thought to challenge this notion. I simply accepted it for what it was. I mean, everyone else is doing it, right? As I continued building and launching games, consoles, platforms, software and other tech - I grew increasingly skeptical of the rationale behind the regional go-to-market decisions of #tech giants, as well as #gameindustry developers and publishers alike. The more I questioned, the more I realized we were mostly driven on preconceived notions and stale perceptions. In my most recent article in #GulfBusiness, I capture a lot of my rationale and research behind why I see #MENA as the next gaming oasis, with #Sandsoft leading the charge. In turn, I share my story into what drove the shift of my own career - which was born in and has revolved around western corporations and markets for all my professional life, over to MENA. Some highlights: 🎯 More than 60% of the MENA population is under 30, making MENA one of the youngest populations in the world. The impact this has on consumer behaviour around new technologies and technology uptake is huge and particularly exciting, and unlike any other large regional consumer market. 🎯 MENA, and the Gulf specifically, has one the highest number of active connected 5G devices in the world, with some of the most mature 5G infrastructure, according to the #Ericsson connectivity report. This opens up true exploration of innovative experiences at scale that wouldnt be possible with on-average slower or less reliable mobile data connections in other markets. 🎯 Unlike Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific which have all seen yearly declines in consumer spending on gaming, MENA was the only region in world that saw a noticeable increase in consumer spend in gaming in 2023. Check out my article on Gulf Business for the full write-up. 🔽 https://lnkd.in/d3_i_iw3

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Abu Dhabi's bold move to construct the world's first eSports island underscores the Middle East Gulf region's commitment to championing the eSports industry. With True Gamers leading the initiative, the UAE aims to position itself as a global hub for eSports gaming, leveraging its burgeoning gaming population and strategic investments. The $280 million USD project, slated to be situated along the iconic Al Raha beach, signifies a significant investment in infrastructure and facilities tailored to nurture both regional and international gaming talent. Featuring high-tech venues, professional training facilities like GG Bootcamp, and content creation spaces, the island promises to offer a comprehensive ecosystem for gamers. As the Middle East has already hosted major eSports tournaments across Riyadh, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the island's development signals a new era of growth and opportunity for the region. In addition with Your Marketing Chief (YMC) delivering games and esports innovation commercially and academically growth will be accelerated. Some interesting questions arise. How might the creation of this eSports island impact the global eSports landscape, and what opportunities does it present for aspiring gamers and industry professionals? #abudhabi #esports

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I will be speaking at HIT Games Conference. Panel Discussion: MENA Gaming Ecosystem 

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Attending the Dubai Game Expo Summit? Working on your next multiplayer hit title? Need the best solution to scale your game to success? Come find Adam Brennan 🔜 Dubai Game Expo Summit at the show and he can fill you in on all the details!

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The West still needs insight and a GCC middleman to guide them in this fast-growing gaming market, BUT ⤵ I'm Jassim Dashti, here to bridge that gap! With nearly 5 years of experience, (and before that, a solo dev). I know what GCC players love and what’s needed in the local market. Here’s what I bring to the table: ✅ Produced 40+ prototypes for top mobile game publishers. ✅ VR, AR, NFT, Web3, blockchain gaming, IAP, and IAA (no casino or gambling projects are allowed). ✅ Deep knowledge of game KPIs from choosing the right game icons to in-game colors, and game themes, that reduce CPI and improve player attraction. ✅ Proven experience with major publishers like Voodoo, Applovin, Homa Games, tap-nation, Boombit, and Kwalee. ✅ Guidance through GCC rules and requirements. ✅ Specialized support in game design, storytelling, and mechanics to craft experiences players love. ✅ A strong network across the GCC gaming industry to connect Western gaming companies with the right people and resources. 🌐 BTW my website will be live soon 🛠 If you’d like to know more about me or need my help, hit the call action or DM me. I’d truly appreciate it if you ppl could: 👍 Like, 💬 Comment, 🔄 Share to help spread the word! #gamingcommunity #consultancy #advisor #gamedevs #gamingmarket #ai

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Finally back-to-back UAE gaming & blockchain events have ended! Coupled with 100's of exciting meetings, sleepless nights, pitches & recovery from the local flu thats got everyone coughing/sneezing. (Yes Tobias Bauer its reached US).. its time to fully focus on building! Next is #EsportsWorldCup Riyadh.. #gaming #esports #blockchain #startups

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“IOC enters a new era with the creation of Olympic Esports Games – first Games in 2025 in Saudi Arabia” “The Commission, under the leadership of IOC Member David Lappartient, devised a project which addresses the interest of the esports community while respecting the Olympic values. This is particularly true with regard to the game titles on the programme, the promotion of gender equality and engagement with the young audience, which is embracing esports.” #digitalrevolution #esports https://lnkd.in/e7Q8N2C3

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Thanks Abdelhadi Laabi from NCM Investment for a fantastic contribution to the current edition of Game Changers Magazine. It was a really great story for a first time contributor to GC, and we hope to have more of this in the future. You can read the full article below. Follow the official page of Game Changers Magazine on LinkedIn! #anicepieceofcontent #thoughtleadershipmiddleeast

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Next Level on ABXY.media with Paul "The Profit" Dawalibi! Watch, Listen and Subscribe! Let me know what you think about this Episode!

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Why Turkey and the Middle East have good opportunities for emerging games? As the gaming industry continues to expand globally, certain markets present good potential that can significantly contribute to a game's success. Among these, Turkey and the Middle East stand out as dynamic regions full of opportunities for new international game launches. Here are three key reasons why these markets should be on your radar: 1- The gaming community in Turkey and the Middle East is experiencing rapid growth, driven by a young population with increasing access to gaming platforms. Whether it's mobile, PC, or console gaming, the number of active players in these regions is on the rise, creating a fertile ground for new games to gain traction. That means you can test your game or product there and learn from it. 2- Players in these regions are not just casual gamers; they are deeply engaged and spend considerable time on their favorite games. This high level of engagement translates into greater opportunities for building a loyal player base that can drive long-term success. 3- Games that are localized and culturally tailored to the preferences of players in Turkey and the Middle East have a unique advantage. By incorporating local languages, themes, and cultural elements, games can create a more meaningful connection with players, leading to higher retention rates and a stronger community. If you’re looking to explore the opportunities in the Turkey and Middle East markets or need guidance on how to effectively enter these regions, I’d love to connect and discuss how we can make it happen. Feel free to reach out! #GameMarketing #GamePartnership #MENA https://lnkd.in/dQW4s3zP

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FOLLOW THE GOLD – it is summer, it is hot, and the video game industry in Saudi Arabia is booming, making it a key player in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. With a market growth rate of 41.1% year-on-year, the country generated over $1 billion in gaming revenues in 2020, supported by 21.1 million gamers. Demographically diverse, Saudi gamers include 42% women and a broad age range. Esports, bolstered by government investment and initiatives like the Savvy Gaming Group, is rapidly expanding, contributing to projected revenues of $6.8 billion by 2030. The industry also sees rising female participation, despite cultural challenges. https://lnkd.in/d2kH6p_R

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Here I Will Share Behind the Scenes how we make Puzzle games and a lot of insights With Claire Rozain from Puzzle Society. Below are the Podcast Links. https://lnkd.in/dEaK97qP #puzzle #Games #gamedevelopment #mobileGames #casualGames #puzzleSociety

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Gamers and aspiring game developers want AAA games like GTA or PUBG to be developed in Pakistan. But it isn't as straight forward and you can't just jump onto it. There's a clear, concise path to it and I talked about exactly that in my latest video. 💫 https://lnkd.in/d7ikPsVy

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part 1 and 2 is out john has summed the things that game publisher need to take note. the need to understand the player behavior, player motivations and game economy is crucial in crafting the revenue path and strategies for each segment or group. there is no 1 size fits all strategy. not just on monetization, before that, acquistion and retention would be the initial steps to work on and follow by monetization. Just working monetization alone will see repercussions. Players have too many options to choose, how to keep them to the game and keeping them long will be one of the core to successful monetization.

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Another fantastic piece from the GamesIndustry.Biz GI Sprint cutting to the heart of the issue and sharing important insights into: - The need for developers to integrate tried and tested tools - How crucial it is to find the right AI tools for the right purpose. - Why the industry experience of providers is so important when considering AI tools for games and the need to work with AI developers who deeply understand what's required of games AI. #GISprint

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“One misconception when it comes to Arabic localization is that it’s as simple as creating a master translation sheet that is sent to a localization agency who can work on it overnight. But that’s not how it works. Certain UI elements need to be changed, the game engine needs to be able to support RTL languages, and there are so many other considerations on a language and cultural level to ensure the translation works for the game." A small snippet of my involvement in this white paper around localization for the Arabic speaking world courtesy of Niko Partners.

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