Film and Gaming Forum highlights storytelling’s role in driving economic growth

- Second day of Film and Gaming Forum highlights storytelling’s role in driving economic growth, digital innovation, and global influence in the Arab world
- Olsberg SPI highlights screen industry’s untapped potential; Square Enix forecasts MENA gaming surge
- Governments around the world are prioritising the screen sector, not merely as a cultural asset, but as a cornerstone of economic strategy
- Panellists urge Arab world to harness the full spectrum of screen sector benefits through collaborative policymaking, expansion of production infrastructure, and sustained investment in creative talent
- Gaming sector reached $298.1 billion in 2024, surpassing the combined global market size of the film and music industries
- Cloud gaming adoption underway across the Arab region; telecom providers have begun launching services in partnership with leading global platforms

The second day of the Film and Gaming Forum, held as part of the ongoing Arab Media Summit 2025, spotlighted the transformative power of two of the world’s most dynamic creative sectors — film and gaming. 

Organised by the Dubai Films and Games Commission under the Dubai Media Council (DMC), the Forum continued to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for innovation, storytelling, and digital entertainment.

A key session hosted by leading consultancy Olsberg.SPI delved into the screen industry’s vast potential to unlock economic, social, and cultural value. Titled ‘Screen Production as a Catalyst for Economic and Cultural Growth’, the session brought together Leon Forde, CEO of Olsberg SPI; Omar Butti, Executive Director of the Dubai Films and Games Commission; and Karina Miller, Founder of Sparkhouse Media, for a deep dive into the strategic value of screen sector investment.

Latent potential
The session noted that a thriving screen industry (comprising film, television, and video games) holds the potential to generate far-reaching economic, cultural, and social benefits. Panellists explored how strategic investment in screen production can fuel creative economies, enhance a nation's global positioning, and shape forward-looking public policy.

Drawing on global case studies, Leon Forde, CEO of Olsberg SPI demonstrated why governments around the world are prioritising the screen sector, not merely as a cultural asset, but as a cornerstone of economic strategy.

Key Economic Benefits
The session outlined key economic benefits that make the screen industry a proven engine of growth. Screen production was described as a ‘fleet-footed’ manufacturing activity, capable of channelling substantial and immediate spending into local economies through cast, crew, and supplier engagement. Unlike many public investment programmes, film and television productions bring guaranteed budgets that are spent directly in the host region, generating trackable and timely returns. 

The sector also delivers high-skilled, mobile jobs across a diverse range of disciplines, cultivating technical and creative expertise that is transferable across multiple industries. These benefits are amplified by the sector’s ripple effects on supply chains, stimulating demand across accommodation, catering, transport, and other service sectors. Crucially, international productions also act as conduits for foreign direct investment, bringing external capital into host economies and driving sustained financial inflows.

Tool of Soft Power
Beyond the economic metrics, the session explored how screen production can raise a nation’s global influence and cultural ecosystem. Internationally filmed content often leaves a deep and lasting impression on audiences, encouraging screen tourism and attracting visitors to on-screen locations. Screen content, the session noted, also functions as a powerful tool of soft power, acting as a cultural ambassador that promotes national identity, strengthens international influence, and supports broader diplomatic, trade, and investment objectives. At home, a dynamic screen sector nurtures cultural vitality, fosters artistic excellence, challenges societal norms, and strengthens social cohesion. It also elevates the credibility of cultural institutions, reinforcing their leadership role within the media and creative industries.

The session urged the Arab world to harness the full spectrum of screen sector benefits through collaborative policymaking, the expansion of production infrastructure, and sustained investment in creative talent. With the region increasingly poised to become a global hub for content creation, the UAE’s leadership in convening such strategic dialogue reflects a deeper commitment to building a resilient, future-facing media ecosystem that resonates both regionally and internationally, the session noted.

Emirati filmmakers in the spotlight
Another highlight of the day was a session titled ‘Behind the Lens: Emirati Filmmakers’, which featured notable homegrown voices including directors Abdullah Al Kaabi, Hana Kazim, and Nawaf Al Janahi. Moderated by Latifa Khoory from Dubai Media Council, the discussion reflected on the challenges and opportunities for Emirati creatives and the importance of fostering original narratives that resonate both regionally and globally.

Gaming: A Global Business Frontier
Another session titled ‘The Business of Gamification’ turned the focus to gaming, now the world’s largest entertainment sector by market value. Hideaki Uehara, General Manager of Investment and Business Development at Square Enix, outlined how mobile gaming, cloud access, and evolving monetisation models are transforming the industry. Square Enix is one of the world’s leading game developers and publishers, known for major franchises including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Space Invaders.

The gaming sector, now widely recognised as the world’s largest entertainment industry by market value, reached an estimated $298.1 billion in 2024, surpassing the combined global market size of the film and music industries, which stood at $100.4 billion. Uehara presented market data focused on gaming content revenue specifically, excluding hardware such as consoles and accessories, noting that this segment alone is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.3% from 2025. This expansion is particularly pronounced in emerging markets, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region ranking among the fastest-growing globally.

A key driver of this growth is mobile gaming. “Of the three main gaming platforms—console, PC, and mobile—mobile games have experienced the highest growth in recent years,” Uehara noted. He added that China remains the world’s largest gaming market, followed by the United States, Japan, and South Korea. While mobile leads in Asia, he acknowledged that console gaming is more dominant in Europe and the US.

New revenue streams
On monetisation models, Uehara explained that “most mobile game revenue now comes from in-game purchases, rather than upfront payments.” According to the data shared, over 99% of mobile gaming revenue is generated through add-on content. He outlined the shift from traditional pay-to-play models to free-to-play experiences, where engagement drives revenue. Subscription models are also gaining traction, alongside hybrid approaches that blend premium access with optional upgrades.

Uehara then turned to cloud gaming as a trend reshaping access to games. “With cloud gaming, users don’t need a console or powerful hardware—just a screen, controller, and internet connection,” he said. This approach significantly lowers the entry barrier for new gamers, particularly in markets where gaming hardware remains expensive. He added that cloud gaming adoption is already underway across the Arab region, where telecom providers have begun launching services in partnership with leading global platforms.