Abu Dhabi Gaming Opens Doors to 200 Developers for November’s SHIFT Game Jam

The emirate's gaming initiative welcomes creators of all levels to a three-day collaborative sprint, supported by Unity experts and industry mentors, culminating in a AED60,000 prize pool.

Registration has opened for the next edition of SHIFT Game Jam, the collaborative game development event that continues to shape Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a creative technology hub. Taking place from 13 to 15 November at DCD NABDH MBZ – Al Manhal, the three-day gathering will bring together up to 200 participants spanning creative and technical disciplines to conceive, develop and present playable games within the compressed timeframe that defines the jam format.

Abu Dhabi Gaming, the government-led initiative steering the emirate’s transformation into a global gaming centre, has structured the event in partnership with Unity, the world-renowned game development platform. The November edition welcomes participants at every stage of their creative journey. Beginners sit alongside experienced developers, with aspiring artists, designers, writers and audio creators finding their place within collaborative teams. This inclusive approach creates an environment where emerging talent gains practical experience in the realities of game development, while established professionals continue to refine their craft.

Throughout the event, Unity experts and industry mentors will provide guidance and technical support. Participants will work with professional development tools, receive hands-on feedback on their projects and encounter the particular pressures and rhythms of time-sensitive collaborative creation. This mentorship structure elevates the experience beyond a simple competition, transforming it into a genuine learning environment where knowledge flows from seasoned practitioners to the next generation of creators.

The competitive element arrives as teams present their finished games to a judging panel assessing each project across gameplay, creativity, thematic coherence, visual and audio presentation, technical execution and overall player experience. The November prize pool totals AED60,000 in vouchers, distributed as AED30,000 to the winning team, AED20,000 to the runners-up and AED10,000 to third place. The winning team receives the additional benefit of premium Unity services, including expert sessions and project reviews designed to accelerate their development.

The November event follows a successful October edition that brought together 50 university students and recent graduates at Abu Dhabi University. Working in teams of up to five, participants created 16 playable game prototypes across 48 hours, responding to the theme of ‘Festival of Passports’. This momentum reflects the maturing appetite within Abu Dhabi’s creative community for structured opportunities to develop and showcase gaming talent. As the emirate continues establishing itself within the global games industry, initiatives like SHIFT Game Jam function as both incubator and showcase, nurturing local creativity whilst attracting international attention to Abu Dhabi’s emerging ecosystem.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The SHIFT Game Jam series represents a tangible investment in Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a centre for digital creativity and technological innovation. By welcoming 200 developers and creators to collaborate across professional standards and mentorship structures, the emirate signals its commitment to building a sustainable creative economy grounded in practical skill development and industry expertise. The scale and frequency of these events, coupled with substantial prize pools and professional development opportunities, demonstrate a structured approach to nurturing homegrown talent whilst positioning Abu Dhabi within the international games development conversation.

For the emirate’s creative community, the jam provides both immediate opportunities and longer-term pathways. Participants gain direct access to industry leaders and cutting-edge development tools, establishing networks and demonstrating their capabilities to potential collaborators and employers. The consistent programming of these events, supported by both government initiative and industry partners like Unity, signals that game development and digital creativity are recognised as core components of Abu Dhabi’s economic and cultural future.

Source: WAM