Abu Dhabi's largest gaming festival returns for its fourth edition

Ready, set, game…

Gaming gurus, this one’s for you. Abu Dhabi’s popular Yas Gaming Festival will be returning for its fourth edition this year. Running from August 30 to September 12 at Yas Mall and hosted in partnership with Yas Island, the festival will be a two-week long event that will feature game showcases, racing simulators, and retro and VR games. 

So what’s the deal?

The festival will unfold at the Yas Mall Town Square and is free to enter for all ages. It will will include PlayStations, Xbox One consoles, Nintendo Switch stations and Formula 1 stimulators, so gamers won’t need to haul any gear.

On September 1, you can battle it out from 6pm on Fortnite, and on September 9, take to the turf for FIFA 23 on PlayStation. Both tournaments will host a maximum of 40 players each. Registration for checked-in participants will be open from 2pm to 5pm daily. In addition to unforgettable team-based entertainment throughout the festival, amazing prizes are also up for grabs, including hefty shopping vouchers to Abu Dhabi Retail, Yas Bay F&B vouchers and Darna Rewards points by Aldar. 

To make matters more interesting, the venue is also hosting a cosplay competition on September 2. Fans are invited to dress up as their favourite characters, with many expected to stroll (or fly, or teleport) down memory lane. Contestants can also contribute to the non-profit game studio Gaming4Good, by teaming up with influencers and donating to a charitable cause by supporting the Emirates Autism Centre. Find details on all tournaments here and sign up for the festival here. 

More gaming?

Yes, you read that right. Possibly one of the world’s largest gaming and esports events, Saudi Arabia’s The Gamers8 will continue until August 31. With around 30 high-pressure competitions pitting regional and international players and teams against each other for cash prizes, the event has 40 zones with a variety of computer and esports games. Register here.

Yas Gaming Festival, Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, August 30 to September 12. Tel: 800 927 6255, @yasmallad