Dubai has officially entered a new kind of digital playground. On 11 November 2026, gaming company Wild Unlimited celebrated the launch of Dubai Developed in Fortnite 2033 (DDIF2033) at SALT, Kite Beach, bringing together gaming enthusiasts, creators, industry professionals and partners to mark the arrival of a Dubai-inspired world inside Fortnite.
The launch event, known as Wild Game Fest, marked an important milestone for Founder and CEO Sam Shami and the wider team behind the project. It was the culmination of a development journey that brought together gaming, technology, creative collaboration and Dubai’s growing digital entertainment ecosystem.
A recent Instagram reel featuring a catch-up with Sam Shami with the local influencer guildmm.tv offers a glimpse into the journey and the people involved in bringing the initiative to life. The project has been supported by a wider network that includes Wild Unlimited, Stackd Media, Stackd.gg and GuildMMTV, reflecting the collaborative effort behind the initiative.
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A Dubai experience built for the gaming world
DDIF2033 is an independently developed, open-world, team-based gaming experience created by Wild Unlimited using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).
The first edition brings recognisable Dubai destinations into an interactive environment where players can explore locations, take on challenges and participate in team-based activities.
The digital map features ten locations and experiences, including Al Fahidi Fort, Almas Tower, Uptown Dubai, Skydive Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Kite Beach, SALT, Dubai Harbour, X-Dubai and the American University in Dubai.
Rather than simply recreating the city’s skyline, the experience gives players an opportunity to interact with a digital representation of Dubai through gameplay.
For Sam Shami, the ambition extends beyond developing another Fortnite island. The vision is to create a digital destination where millions of players can discover Dubai, experience its landmarks and culture, and connect with the city through gaming.
Wild Game Fest: Bringing the community together at Kite Beach
The launch celebration at SALT, Kite Beach, was an opportunity to bring the project out of the development environment and into the wider gaming community.
Wild Game Fest celebrated the official release of DDIF2033 while connecting the people behind the project with players, creators, developers and industry participants.
The gathering also formed part of a wider programme of community engagement, including creator activations, gaming activities and opportunities for people working in the Unreal Engine and UEFN ecosystem to connect.
The event was particularly relevant to Dubai’s emerging game development community, bringing attention to the local talent and creative work behind an experience designed for international audiences.
It also demonstrated how a gaming launch can become a meeting point for technology, entertainment, networking and community building.
The people and partnerships behind the achievement
While Wild Unlimited led the development of the experience, the project reflects a broader network of partnerships.
Sam Shami has been at the forefront of the initiative, working through Wild Unlimited and its collaboration with DMCC Gaming Centre.
Stackd Media, Stackd.gg and GuildMMTV are also among the names associated with the people and collaborative network around the project. The involvement of creative and gaming communities highlights the importance of partnerships in taking an idea from development to a public launch.
The DMCC Gaming Centre has played an important role in connecting the initiative with Dubai’s gaming ecosystem. It is home to more than 170 gaming companies, providing a platform for developers, entrepreneurs and businesses to build relationships and explore new opportunities.
The launch was also an opportunity to recognise the wider institutional and commercial collaboration involving DMCC, Dubai Culture, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Shamal Holding, SALT and the American University in Dubai.
From the classroom to a global gaming platform
An important part of DDIF2033’s development has been its connection with education and local talent.
Wild Unlimited conducted Unreal Editor for Fortnite masterclasses at Uptown Dubai and the American University in Dubai.
Students from AUD participated in a February masterclass, where they recreated their university campus using UEFN. Their work was subsequently incorporated into the gaming experience.
This is a meaningful example of how gaming education can move beyond theoretical learning and give students the opportunity to contribute to a real development project with international reach.
It also connects with Dubai’s wider ambitions to develop homegrown gaming talent and strengthen its position as a global centre for the creative and digital economy.
More than a game: Dubai’s growing digital identity
The launch of DDIF2033 reflects a growing intersection between gaming, tourism, culture and technology.
For destinations such as Dubai, interactive gaming environments offer a different way to introduce places, experiences and attractions to audiences who may never have visited the city.
The project also demonstrates how locally based gaming companies can use established global platforms to develop experiences that reach beyond geographical boundaries.
The initiative aligns with the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, which aims to strengthen the emirate’s gaming industry, attract investment and develop talent.
The project is designed to evolve through future phases, with additional locations, gameplay features and opportunities for creators and commercial partners expected to expand the experience.
A milestone for Dubai’s gaming community
For Sam Shami and the team at Wild Unlimited, the launch at Kite Beach represents a significant step in turning a local vision into a globally accessible gaming experience.
It also puts a spotlight on the people, partnerships and creative capabilities developing within Dubai’s gaming ecosystem.
As the digital map evolves, the opportunity will be to bring more of the city’s destinations, culture and communities into the experience, while creating new opportunities for local developers and businesses.
Dubai has built its reputation by connecting people, places and ideas from around the world. DDIF2033 takes that ambition into a new environment, where players can explore the city through a shared digital experience.
The launch at SALT was more than the unveiling of a game. It was a celebration of what Dubai’s gaming community can create when technology, local talent and collaboration come together.
Dubai Developed in Fortnite 2033 is an independently developed Fortnite experience by Wild Unlimited using UEFN. It is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Epic Games, Inc.
