Once dark spaces, gaming cafés are now hubs that offer big prizes

Gaming cafés, once dark, techdated spaces, have undergone a dramatic transformation into RGB-lit bustling hubs of social interaction, national tournaments, and training grounds for international champions.

- Abdullah Al Tekreeti

Gamers who frequented the UAE’s many gaming venues in the early 2010s could hardly have imagined the opportunities these spaces would offer today. While some tournaments offer thousands of dirhams in prizes, the upcoming Emirates Gaming League alone will feature a staggering Million prize pool.

For those who aren’t looking to compete, these cafés offer a unique blend of digital entertainment and real-world socialisation, providing an alternative to gaming at home.

With its dark rooms lit with the bright neon lights of powerful PC rigs, Titan Gaming Café exemplifies the modern evolution of gaming spaces. Based in Sharjah, this gaming café has seen the beginnings of the UAE’s esports scene.

Though still relatively young at just two and a half years old, Titan has already hosted over 75 esports tournaments, including two international ones. Notably, the UAE’s Emirates Esports Federation trusted Titan to host the first-ever UAE Esports League.

Despite the growing popularity of esports, Hamad Al Shamsi, cofounder of Titan, emphasises that gaming cafés and esports cater to different crowds. “Gaming cafés and esports are two different categories; those who come to play at the café on a daily basis are not the same as the people who come to compete in our arena,” he explained.

Al Shamsi told Khaleej Times that esports have aided, rather then caused, the popularity of gaming cafes in the UAE.