Abu Dhabi Gaming Connect returns on Thursday, September 24, with a game-funding session led by Behold Ventures investment associate Ali Farha, followed by networking at Sandstorm Studio in Yas Creative Hub.
Abu Dhabi Gaming Connect focuses on funding game studios
The session, titled ‘Funding the Game’, will cover venture capital, angel investment, project finance and other routes available to game founders. Farha will discuss how studios can choose funding based on their stage, business model and plans for growth, according to the event announcement.
Farha will be joined by Karl-Magnus Troedsson, a founding partner at Behold Ventures and former general manager of DICE. Troedsson previously served as vice-president of group strategy at EA and has worked on franchises including Battlefield, Star Wars Battlefront and Mirror’s Edge. His career has moved from building games to deciding which ones might get built. The funding conversation should therefore have more than one side to it.
The event listing describes Connect as a recurring Abu Dhabi Gaming initiative for partnered studios, developers and talent. It is intended to give local teams access to industry practitioners, investors and other people working across game development.
When and where is the Abu Dhabi Gaming event?
Abu Dhabi Gaming Connect will take place on September 24, 2026, at Sandstorm Studio, Yas Creative Hub, Abu Dhabi. The event runs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM GST, according to the official Luma registration page, while the release lists an 8:30 PM finish.
Attendance is free, but places are limited. Register through Luma before heading to Yas Island. Abu Dhabi Gaming says its wider network includes more than 100 partners across game development, publishing and esports.
The event follows Abu Dhabi Gaming’s work with local and international companies, including the AI game-development partnership with ASPIRE. It also arrives as regional studios look for more routes to funding and publishing, an area covered in our report on MY.GAMES’ support for MENA developers.
What is Abu Dhabi Gaming?
Abu Dhabi Gaming is a government-led initiative focused on talent development, business attraction, community and esports. It says its network includes more than 100 gaming partners.
Who is Karl-Magnus Troedsson?
Karl-Magnus Troedsson is a founding partner at Behold Ventures and a former vice-president of group strategy at EA and general manager of DICE.
Is Abu Dhabi Gaming Connect free to attend?
Yes. Attendance is free, but registration is required and places are limited. The event is listed for September 24 at Sandstorm Studio in Yas Creative Hub.
