Abu Dhabi Gaming Opens Registration for SHIFT Game Jam 2026 With AED 60,000 Prize Pool

The three-day event, organised in partnership with Unity, will bring together up to 200 aspiring and experienced creators to develop and showcase playable games in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Gaming has opened registrations for the November edition of SHIFT Game Jam 2026, scheduled to take place from November 13 to 15 at DCD NABDH MBZ – Al Manhal in Abu Dhabi.

Organised in partnership with Unity, the event aims to bring together developers, designers, artists, writers, and audio creators to collaborate on game development projects. With participation open to beginners as well as experienced creators, the initiative provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in a collaborative development environment.

The three-day event is expected to welcome up to 200 participants, who will work in teams to conceptualise, develop, and present playable game prototypes.

Unity Experts and Industry Mentors to Support Participants

Participants will receive guidance from Unity specialists and industry mentors throughout the event. The support is designed to help teams work with professional development tools, refine their ideas, and gain practical insights into game production.

At the end of the event, teams will present their projects to a judging panel. Entries will be evaluated across several areas, including gameplay, creativity, theme alignment, visual and audio presentation, technical execution, and overall player experience.

This structure provides participants with an opportunity to experience different stages of game development within a limited production timeline.

Previous SHIFT Game Jam Edition Produced 16 Game Prototypes

The upcoming event follows the October edition of SHIFT Game Jam, which was held at Abu Dhabi University from October 17 to 18.

The previous edition brought together 50 university students and recent graduates, who worked in teams of up to five to develop 16 playable game prototypes within 48 hours. The projects were created around the theme "Festival of Passports".

The results highlight how collaborative game development events can encourage emerging talent to experiment with ideas and gain practical production experience.

AED 60,000 Prize Pool and Additional Unity Support

The November edition will feature a total prize pool of AED 60,000 in vouchers, distributed among the top three teams.

• First place: AED 30,000
• Second place: AED 20,000
• Third place: AED 10,000

In addition to the prizes, the winning team will receive access to selected premium Unity services, including expert sessions, project reviews, and optimisation support to help further develop their game.

Supporting the Growth of Abu Dhabi's Gaming Ecosystem

Initiatives such as SHIFT Game Jam contribute to the development of local gaming communities by creating opportunities for collaboration, experimentation, and knowledge sharing.

By bringing together participants from different creative and technical backgrounds, the event supports the development of practical skills and encourages new talent to explore opportunities within the gaming industry.

As Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a gaming and creative technology hub, programmes that connect aspiring developers with professional tools and industry expertise can play an important role in supporting the region's growing game development ecosystem.

Source: wam.ae

Expert's insights

Game jams provide valuable opportunities for emerging developers to turn creative ideas into playable experiences through collaboration and practical experimentation. As a Game development company, GamesDapp recognizes the importance of nurturing development talent, encouraging innovation, and building strong technical foundations for the next generation of gaming experiences.