Al Fahidi Fort, Almas Tower and Kite Beach are heading into a new Dubai Fortnite island that players worldwide can explore from 11 November. DMCC and games company Wild Unlimited announced the island, Dubai Developed in Fortnite 2033, and ARN News Centre also carried the news.
Don’t expect a Fortnite season tie-in. Wild Unlimited built the island in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), Epic’s tool for player-made islands, and the release says it’s “not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc.” For UAE players, it’s a Fortnite island set in their own city, with one campus built by local students.
The first edition covers ten locations: Al Fahidi Fort, Almas Tower, Uptown Dubai, Skydive Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Kite Beach, SALT, Dubai Harbour, X-Dubai and American University in Dubai (AUD). DMCC describes “an open-world, team-based gaming environment” built around exploration, competitive challenges and team-based objectives, but hasn’t shown what those challenges look like.
AUD’s campus got in thanks to its own students. They recreated it at a UEFN masterclass Wild Unlimited ran in February, and added their work to the island. Almas Tower and Uptown Dubai earn their spots differently: DMCC says that’s where its gaming community works. Wild Unlimited founder and CEO Sam Shami says the goal goes beyond a map:
We want to create a digital destination where millions of players around the world can discover Dubai, experience its iconic landmarks, explore its culture, and connect with the city through gaming.
Wild Game Fest and the public launch event take place at SALT on Kite Beach on 11 November, alongside creator activations and community gaming tournaments. Residents can warm up with Dubai Drop, a separate campaign that started on 1 November. It places AR loot box experiences across the city, where you collect AR collectables and compete for partner prizes, redeemable at Wild Game Fest.
We don’t yet know how to play: DMCC hasn’t shared an island code, confirmed platforms, or said whether it’s free. It’s also unclear how long the island will stay up.
The project sits under the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, launched under Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. DMCC’s Gaming Centre is home to more than 170 gaming companies, and its partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Culture, SALT, and investment firm Shamal Holding. DMCC executive chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem summed up Dubai’s pitch in one line:
Our ambition is clear: games made in Dubai, by talent developed in Dubai, played by the world.
Ten landmarks is only the start. DMCC calls the island the “beginning of a longer-term project”, with more destinations, gameplay features and opportunities for creators and commercial partners planned for future editions.
