ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

Abu Dhabi Gaming has partnered with ASPIRE to power AI-driven game development and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position at the intersection of technology, creativity and interactive entertainment.

The agreement was signed by Saeed Ali Obaid Al Fazari, Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, during the A2RL Summit at ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, which convened global innovators to discuss the future of AI, autonomy, and intelligent mobility.

The partnership will align Abu Dhabi’s gaming ecosystem with advanced research capabilities, focusing on pioneering gamification projects and the use of artificial intelligence in game development.

As part of ATRC, ASPIRE identifies industry-led challenges and advances breakthrough technologies into scalable, real-world applications. With Abu Dhabi Gaming’s extensive network of global and local partners, the collaboration will create clear pathways for startups and established studios to access cutting-edge tools, technical expertise, and more innovations from concept to market.

Saeed Ali Obaid Al Fazari, Executive Director of Strategic Affairs at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Partnering with ASPIRE allows us to unite world-class research capabilities with Abu Dhabi’s fast-growing gaming sector, creating new opportunities for innovation, talent development and economic diversification. Together, we are building a collaborative foundation, facilitating access to cutting-edge technologies that will enable gaming companies to grow, empower creators and position Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s leading hubs for interactive entertainment and the digital economy."

The partnership reflects Abu Dhabi Gaming’s commitment to driving economic diversification through creative industries. It will foster collaboration between UAE-based developers and leading international technology and gaming companies, opening pathways for innovation and knowledge exchange that strengthen Abu Dhabi’s role in the global interactive media landscape.

Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, said: “Gaming is fast becoming a strategic frontier for artificial intelligence and the digital economy. It brings together real-time decision-making, advanced simulation, and creative talent in ways few industries can. Through this partnership, ASPIRE is connecting advanced research with Abu Dhabi’s growing gaming ecosystem to accelerate AI adoption, strengthen local capability, and create scalable intellectual property.”

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to positioning Abu Dhabi as a global innovation hub that fosters talent, supports groundbreaking collaborations, and exports world-class intellectual property to audiences worldwide.