Preparations are in high gear for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Games Conference and Exhibition due on 26th to 27th March 2015 in Beirut, Lebanon.
The latest issue of Digital Content Africa (a publication of www.smartmonkeytv.com) has reported that the Menagames conference, has 400 companies invited for discussions around the videogames industry potential in Africa and Middle East region.
“With the purpose of accelerating this industry’s growth in the MENA Region, IFP is organizing the MENA Games Conference & Exhibition on the 26th and 27th of March 2015, in Beirut, Lebanon,” said a statement on the conference website.
The conference will feature a panel of experienced games publishers to discuss the future of online and mobile gaming in the Mena region that is valued at more than USD 3.2 billion in 2016.
“The online mobile and console game Industry represents important business opportunities for the MENA Region’s game publishers, developers, infrastructure and mobility providers, mobile payments, analytic and user acquisition services, design, platforms and online advertising companies,” said the conference website.
Notable game developers from North Africa expected to be present at the conference are: Osama Hussein, an avid gamer and developer who has been working in the game industry for more than a decade and Arif Yassine, a passionate gamer and game designer who graduated in Audio Visual and Level Design in Campus Ubisoft, he worked for 5 years in a several titles as Rayman.
The organisers have said the MEGA Forum and Conference are aimed at exploring the many opportunities and talents, to develop the games industry in the MENA region by creating business opportunities for a promising market.
All this in the light of the facts and knowledge that:
– At Least 50% of MENA Smartphone Users Download Games
– 80% of 180 Million Arabs under the age of 25 are tech-savy mobile users
– Currently there are more than 12 Million users from the Arab world on facebook social games
– Games Software sales in the MENA region triple to USD 3 billion in the next 3 years.
– Arabic Language will be the 4th most used language on the web.
– The gaming sector in the Middle East, Gulf in particular, is estimated to be between USD 1 billion and USD 2.6 billion in terms of revenues including software and hardware.
– Middle East has the second largest mobile phone population with approximately 525.8 million people using a mobile phone monthly.
– By 2015, Smartphones penetration in the Middle East is expected to record a 39% increase, with 72% of the owners less than 34 years old; 62% males and 38% females.
