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Ammon News - Signaling the Kingdom’s accelerating rise in the global gaming ecosystem, the Jordan Gaming Summit commenced Saturday at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center by the Dead Sea.

Under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Smeirat, inaugurated the two-day summit, welcoming industry innovators, entrepreneurs, and game developers eager to position Jordan as a regional gaming and digital content powerhouse.

The summit builds on the success of April’s Electronic Sports Conference, also organized by the Jordan Gaming Lab, a pivotal initiative of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development. The conference embodies Jordan’s ambition to establish itself as a digital and gaming innovation hub across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with the industry set to catalyze economic growth, job creation, and international investment.

"The event is a landmark for Jordan’s game development ecosystem," said Nour Khrais, CEO of Maysalward and a key figure in Jordan’s gaming industry. "This summit highlights Jordan’s transformation into a nexus for game design, development, and publishing a vision made possible by His Majesty’s steadfast support for the digital economy. Jordan is now strategically positioned as the gateway to MENA’s booming gaming market."

Prominent attendees included Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Azmi Mahafzah, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Chairman Nayef Al-Fayez, and Mazen Tabalat, Director of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development. Together, they underscored the government’s commitment to nurturing a thriving gaming industry as part of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, with a focus on scaling innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-tech skills development.

A highlight of the summit is the announcement of winners from the Aqaba Hackathon and the Application Challenge, showcasing Jordan’s up-and-coming development talent.

The event also celebrates a significant milestone: the introduction of Jordan’s first undergraduate program in Game Design and Development, now offered by several Jordanian universities, which Khrais called "a game-changer for developing homegrown talent."

The summit’s agenda includes a sneak peek at "New Horizons 2025," Jordan’s ambitious esports infrastructure project designed to elevate the country’s esports ecosystem with new hubs and state-of-the-art facilities. Attendees can also explore the latest in game publishing, including an exhibition zone for indie developers to connect with regional and global publishers.

In the spirit of cross-border collaboration, the summit provides Jordan’s developers with a unique opportunity to pitch their projects directly to industry titans, fostering connections to bring their games to international markets.

With more than 1,500 expected attendees from across the MENA region and beyond, the summit exemplifies Jordan’s emergence as a key player in the global gaming market.

The government’s commitment to digital transformation, backed by targeted investments and the newly launched National Strategy for Games and Esports, reflects a bold vision: to make Jordan a top destination for game developers, esports talent, and technology partners.

As Jordan’s strategic location and growing expertise attract more global players, the country stands poised to reshape the gaming landscape in MENA and secure a lasting impact on the world stage.