UAE game bootcamp closes cohort 4 as cohort 3 ships games
Teams from cohort 3 published their prototypes on itch.io after the showcase
UNDP and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation closed applications for the fourth cohort of their game development bootcamp on October 30th, a week after the third cohort showed its games at Demo Day.
Teams from cohort 3 published their prototypes on itch.io after the showcase. The organisers said the aim was to give participants a finished game and a portfolio piece, and that for many it was their first time taking a game from concept to a published release.
The bootcamp is a 12-week virtual programme for Emirati students and recent graduates aged 18 to 35. It is free, funded by the foundation, and built on HP’s Gaming Garage initiative. Applicants do not need a coding background, though basic C# helps.
From first cohort to a 500-person target
The programme launched in Dubai on April 25th, 2025, alongside the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, with more than 150 participants in the first cohort. UNDP and the foundation set a target of training 500 Emirati youth. Nearly 80% of the first cohort were Emirati and 75% were women, according to a December 2025 release.
Track 1 covers coding, Unity and game design, and ends with a playable 2D prototype. A second track, built around 3D workflows and optimisation, is listed as coming soon. Both tracks include CV and interview preparation, mentoring and entrepreneurship content.
In December 2025, the foundation and HP signed an agreement to bring Gaming Garage and HP LIFE into the foundation’s Innovation Hubs, building on the bootcamp. Past projects include The Final Chime, HeritageQuest, Puzzle Portals, Endless Escape and JELLOJELLO.
The programme ties into the UAE Digital Economy Strategy and the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033.
