NEXUS announced on the 30th that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Dubai Media Council (DMC) to foster the gaming industry and collaborate on global business.
The two parties will collaborate in alignment with the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33), Dubai's initiative to foster its gaming industry. The policy aims to position Dubai among the world's top 10 gaming cities by 2033, create 30,000 new jobs in the gaming industry, and increase its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to approximately $1 billion.
The agreement includes supporting the global distribution and publishing of Dubai-developed games as well as the establishment of in-game economic systems. It also aims to nurture local game studios and talent, discover gaming industry investment opportunities, and facilitate advisory collaboration with Korean gaming industry experts.
To support expansion into overseas markets, the parties plan to leverage the global game distribution platform and publishing network of ONEstore, a subsidiary of NEXUS. NEXUS will support local developers in Dubai while also exploring technical cooperation required to build in-game payment and economic systems.
This agreement was initiated on the occasion of a visit to Korea by a Dubai government delegation. The goal is to connect NEXUS's local business foundation and global game distribution and publishing capabilities with the Dubai government's gaming industry fostering policy. DMC, the agreement partner, oversees media industry policy and regulation for the Dubai government. Its affiliate, the Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC), supports the development of the film and gaming industries, talent cultivation, and investment attraction.
At the signing ceremony, NEXUS CEO Jang Hyun-guk along with NEXUS advisors Song Jae-kyung and Seo Min were appointed as gaming industry advisors to the Dubai government. Based on their experience built in the Korean gaming industry, they will participate in advising on the mid- to long-term development direction and global competitiveness enhancement of Dubai's gaming industry. Advisor Song Jae-kyung previously served as vice president of NCSoft and CEO of XLGames, while advisor Seo Min served as CEO of Neople and Nexon Korea.
NEXUS previously established a partnership with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) in October of last year. Since then, centered around its local Dubai entity NEXUS HUB FZCO, it has been promoting game studio incubation and global publishing programs in collaboration with the DMCC Gaming Centre.
CEO Jang Hyun-guk stated, "This agreement is an important opportunity to expand the collaborative foundation we have built in Dubai into a strategic partnership at the government level. By combining ONEstore's global distribution network with NEXUS's publishing and game economy infrastructure, we will connect the Korean and Dubai gaming industries and take the lead in opening up global markets for local game developers."
Faisal Kazim, head of Dubai's gaming industry, said, "This MOU opens pathways for Dubai-developed games to reach global users and supports local game developers in building sustainable in-game economic ecosystems. Through our collaboration with NEXUS, we will accelerate achieving the goals of the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33), which aims to create employment and increase the gaming industry's economic contribution."
