A video game with a touch of Emirati tradition & hero who wears a kandura

Dubai Police officer develops video game which brings to life stories from the UAE’s past

- Rugayya Al Qaydi

In the world of video games, anybody can be a hero; so, a 27-year-old developer in Dubai created one that wears — not a cape — but a traditional Emirati kandura.

First Lt Hamdan Hamid Al Ali, the creator who is also an officer from the Dubai Police, wanted to immerse players in the UAE's culture with his video game Emirati Tales.

"My goal is to educate the world about the UAE’s rich history and culture, while entertaining players in a meaningful way," Hamdan told Khaleej Times.

In Hamdan's video game, the protagonist — clad in a kandura (traditional Emirati dress) and wearing a ghutra (traditional headscarf) — brings to life stories from the UAE's past and presents them in an engaging format.

Through the hero's adventures, players also get to know more about the UAE way of life, from its history to the myths.

With both Emirati Arabic voiceovers and English subtitles, it is accessible to a global audience while staying rooted in local tradition.

Pursuing his passion beyond his cop duties, Hamdan has been developing video games that both entertain and educate.

"I’ve been fascinated by video games for as long as I can remember," said the Emirati officer, who is also completing a PhD in artificial intelligence (AI) at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of AI.

"They weren’t just entertainment for me—they were portals to other worlds," he said.