Abu Dhabi University is set to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design, marking the first degree of its kind in the region. This new program was announced following a significant memorandum of understanding signed between the university, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Rubika, a video game-focused school with campuses in France and Canada. The agreement also received support from Abu Dhabi Gaming.

The degree program will commence in August, coinciding with the start of the academic year. It is already featured on the Abu Dhabi University website. The program aims to equip students with the creative, technical, and industry-driven skills necessary to design, develop, and produce engaging video game experiences.

Students will have access to a wide range of courses, including Fundamentals of Emotional Intelligence and the History of Video Games, alongside specialized courses that focus on various genres and platforms, such as first-person shooters and mobile games. The program emphasizes a combination of theory and practical application, covering vital areas of game design, including level design, game mechanics, narrative development, and interactive media production.

Students will become proficient in industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and Adobe Suite, enabling them to create immersive digital experiences for entertainment, education, and simulation. Abu Dhabi is actively working to enhance its local gaming and esports ecosystem, with Abu Dhabi Gaming—an initiative launched in 2021 to support game developers, players, consumers, and businesses—integrated into the Department of Culture and Tourism in November 2023. This integration aims to position the emirate as a global gaming hub, as noted by the Abu Dhabi Media Office.