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Game development · Dubai and the UAEGame Development Company for Dubai and the UAE
Capermint is a game development company serving studios, brands and operators in Dubai and across the UAE from its delivery studio in Ahmedabad, India, 1.5 hours ahead of UAE time. We build mobile, PC, console and web games, gamification and iGaming platforms. Typical ranges: single-game MVP $10K–$40K, mid-scope multiplayer $40K–$120K; white-label platforms for licensed operators launch in 6–10 weeks.
Game development for UAE clients at a glance
Looking for a game development company in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE? Here is what we build, how remote delivery works, what it costs and which UAE rules apply.
| Item | Capermint for UAE projects |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | Game studios and publishers, brands and agencies, startups and enterprise teams in the UAE, plus US, Canadian and other international companies launching there; for real money, only operators licensed by the GCGRA or another regulator |
| What we build | Mobile, web, PC and console games in Unity or Unreal Engine; board, card and multiplayer games; AR and VR; gamification; iGaming platforms for licensed markets |
| Where the team works | Delivery studio in Ahmedabad, India (UTC+5:30), 1.5 hours ahead of the UAE (UTC+4). Neither country uses daylight saving time, so the gap stays the same all year. We schedule calls in UAE business hours, and in US and Canadian business hours for teams based there |
| Typical price ranges (USD) | Single-game MVP $10K–$40K; mid-scope multiplayer $40K–$120K; large custom platform $120K+; white-label or turnkey casino $35K–$120K |
| Typical timelines | Turnkey casino 6–10 weeks; poker MVP 60–90 days; full-featured multi-platform Ludo about 12–20 weeks; other games are dated during scoping |
| Engagement models | Fixed-scope project, dedicated team billed monthly, or co-development and staff augmentation alongside your own team |
| UAE compliance scope | UAE age ratings, the Child Digital Safety Law, federal data protection and, for real money, GCGRA licensing. Operators are responsible for licensing; we build to the technical requirements of the target jurisdiction |
| Company | Capermint Technologies Pvt Ltd, founded in 2014 in Ahmedabad by Vivek Shah; over 200 specialists; Capermint-reported 650+ customers worldwide; Clutch 4.9/5 from 13 reviews |
Comparing several studios first? Our guide to game development companies in the UAE looks at studios serving the market. This page covers how Capermint works with UAE clients.
Games we build for UAE studios, brands and operators
Each of these can be delivered as a complete project, as a playable prototype first, or by a dedicated team that joins your own producers.
Mobile games for iOS and Android
Casual, puzzle, runner and mid-core games with ads, in-app purchases, analytics and store release. See our mobile game development services.
Unity and Unreal games for PC, console and web
Games built in Unity or Unreal Engine, plus HTML5 and WebGL games that run in a browser or inside an existing app.
Board, card and multiplayer games
Ludo, chess, carrom and card games with real-time multiplayer, private rooms, leaderboards and tournaments. For UAE players these are built as free-to-play or social games, with no cash stakes or cash prizes.
Branded games and gamification
Games and reward mechanics for retail, banking, loyalty and learning, inside your app or as standalone campaigns. See our gamification services.
AR and VR experiences
AR games, VR games and VR training simulations, scoped around the headsets or phones your audience already uses.
iGaming platforms and casino games
Player accounts, wallet, casino games and sportsbook modules, built only for operators licensed by the GCGRA or another regulator, to the target jurisdiction's technical requirements. See custom iGaming platform development.
Dedicated developers
Unity, Unreal, backend, 2D and 3D art and QA specialists working inside your sprints. You can hire game developers monthly instead of commissioning a fixed-scope project.
Arabic and English from the first sprint
Retrofitting right-to-left layouts after the interface is built means reworking screens, so when Arabic is in scope we plan it into the UI from the start:
- Right-to-left layouts for menus, HUD, store screens and onboarding
- Arabic fonts that render joined letterforms and mixed Arabic and English strings correctly
- Room for text expansion and separate string files for translators
- Store listings and in-game text reviewed with your team against UAE content norms
Arabic translation and native-speaker review are quoted as a separate line item, or supplied by your own team, so their cost is visible in the proposal.
Local Dubai studio, remote studio or in-house team?
A search for a game development company in Dubai usually ends in one of four options. The right one depends on budget, how often you need to meet in person, and who runs the game after launch.
| Option | How it works | Strengths | Trade-offs | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi | The team, contract and invoicing sit in the UAE | In-person workshops, local entity, local market knowledge | Confirm that the delivery team, not only the contracting entity, is in the UAE | Projects that need frequent on-site sessions or a UAE contracting entity |
| Remote studio in another country (Capermint's model) | The full team works remotely through video calls, shared boards and regular playable builds | Design, art, engineering and QA under one contract; phased budgets | Fewer in-person meetings; a foreign contracting party; needs a clear brief and quick feedback | Teams that want a full studio on a fixed scope or monthly budget |
| In-house team in the UAE | You recruit, employ and sponsor developers | Full control; knowledge stays in the company after launch | Recruiting time, visas and overhead; hard to staff every discipline for one project | Companies running a long-term live game |
| Freelancers | Individual contractors for defined tasks | Low cost for small, well-defined jobs | Coordination, continuity and IP terms fall on you | Art packs, small fixes or early prototypes |
How to compare quotes fairly
- Use one written brief. Send every studio the same scope, platforms, art style and launch date.
- Ask who does the work. Confirm where the team sits and whether any part is subcontracted.
- Ask for milestones. Prototype, production, launch and support priced separately show where the money goes.
- Agree ownership in writing. List source code, assets, documentation and third-party licenses in the contract.
Game development cost and timeline for UAE projects
These are the typical ranges we publish. Where your game lands depends on platforms, art, online features, languages and integrations. A final quote follows a scoping call.
| Scope | Typical price (USD) | Approx. AED | Typical timeline | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludo game | From $5K–$10K | From AED 18K–37K | Full-featured multi-platform build: about 12–20 weeks | From $5K–$10K covers a basic single-platform build with core Ludo rules; multiplayer, more platforms and features add scope |
| Casual or skill game MVP | $10K–$40K | AED 37K–147K | Set in scoping | One game, core loop, art, ads or purchases, analytics and store release |
| Mid-scope multiplayer game | $40K–$120K | AED 147K–441K | Set in scoping | Real-time multiplayer, accounts, social features, backend, admin panel and several platforms |
| Poker platform | $25K (MVP) to $200K+ | AED 92K to 735K+ | MVP 60–90 days; full multi-platform 4–6 months; white-label 30–45 days | Social poker, or real-money poker for a licensed operator: tables and tournaments, virtual currency or wallet, admin and anti-collusion tools |
| White-label or turnkey casino | $35K–$120K | AED 129K–441K | 6–10 weeks | Branded front end, player accounts, wallet, games, bonuses and back office for a licensed operator |
| Large custom game or platform | $120K+ | AED 441K+ | Phased; dates set in scoping | Several game modes or verticals, custom backend, LiveOps tools and integrations |
Price bands are published in USD. AED figures are approximate, converted at the UAE dirham's fixed peg of AED 3.6725 to USD 1. Typical ranges; a final quote follows a scoping call.
What moves the price
- Art: 3D characters and environments cost more than 2D, and every extra level or skin adds art time.
- Online features: multiplayer, chat and tournaments need a backend, load testing and hosting.
- Platforms: each added platform adds build, QA and release work.
- Languages: Arabic support costs less when planned in the first sprint.
- Compliance: age assurance, parental controls and consent flows add design and testing time.
Costs outside the development quote
- App store commissions, hosting and third-party SDK fees
- Translation, voice-over and music licensing
- Age rating or content approval steps where they apply
- Marketing and user acquisition
- For real-money products: licensing, counsel, lab testing, payment and identity-verification fees
How a UAE project runs, step by step
The steps are the same for a casual game and a larger platform; only their length changes. With a 1.5-hour time difference, calls fit inside both working days.
Brief and scoping call
We review your concept, audience, platforms, languages, budget and launch date, and flag UAE rules that affect the build.
Proposal
Scope, milestones, team, price, timeline and ownership terms in writing, with third-party licenses and recurring costs listed separately.
Prototype or vertical slice
A playable build of the core mechanic or one finished level, so you can test the idea before full production spend.
Production sprints
Art, engineering and design run in short sprints, with playable builds on your devices and regular demos.
QA and launch preparation
Device and performance testing, Arabic and English text checks, store listings and any age-assurance features your counsel specifies.
Launch and LiveOps
Store release support, updates and events, or a documented handover to your team on the terms in your contract.
UAE rules your game must be built for
Most UAE game projects touch three sets of rules: content and age ratings, child online safety, and personal data. Real-money products add a fourth. We build the features these rules call for to the specification you and your counsel set; we do not give legal advice or obtain licenses for you.
Age classification and content
In 2018 the UAE's then National Media Council introduced age ratings for video games of 3, 7, 12, 16, 18 and 21, covering console, PC, online and mobile games. Federal media oversight is moving to the National Media Authority, created by federal decree-law in December 2025 to replace the UAE Media Council, the National Media Office and the Emirates News Agency (WAM). Confirm which rating and content requirements currently apply to your distribution channel before launch.
Child Digital Safety Law
Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety took effect on 1 January 2026 with a one-year grace period, so full enforcement is expected from January 2027. It covers platforms that operate in the UAE or direct their services at UAE users, and expressly includes gaming platforms. Duties include age verification scaled to the platform's risk classification, parental tools such as daily time limits, no access for children to "online commercial games" (a term the law does not define), and custodian consent before processing data of children under 13. The risk classification system and sanctions rules were still to be issued when the law took effect, so confirm the current position with counsel.
Personal data
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the protection of personal data applies to the processing of data about people in the UAE, including by companies outside the country. The DIFC and ADGM financial free zones keep their own data protection laws. We design data flows, consent screens and retention settings to the requirements your counsel confirms.
Real-money gaming and the GCGRA
Gambling is a criminal offence under the UAE Penal Code; commercial gaming is lawful only where it is licensed. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal regulator set up in 2023, licenses gaming facilities, lotteries, internet gaming and sports wagering. The first internet gaming and sports wagering licensee was added in November 2025; check the regulator's current register for licensed operators. The GCGRA also issues gaming-related vendor licences to suppliers, so ask counsel whether your suppliers need one. Operators are responsible for licensing; we build to the technical requirements of the target jurisdiction.
Selling beyond the UAE
If you also plan to launch outside the UAE: in the US, online casino is legal in only a handful of states, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and sports betting is legal in most states under state licensing. Ontario runs a regulated iGaming market through the AGCO and iGaming Ontario. India's Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits online money games, so for India we build free-to-play, social and e-sports formats only.
General information, not legal advice. Laws and implementing rules change; confirm current requirements with UAE counsel.
What you can check before you hire us
Verify our work rather than take our word for it. Here is where to look.
Games portfolio
Mobile, casual and board titles, plus published case documents for Animal Gridiron, End Game Chess, Gamepop, Runner Runner and Wood Nuts & Bolts. Open the games portfolio
Clients and products
Selected clients and products on our clients page include Rally Bulls, Zen Gamer Studios, Playsphere Studios, Glance, Jio Glass and Chess Castle. See our clients
Clutch 4.9/5 from 13 reviews
Our GoodFirms profile is also public, so you can read client feedback before a call.
Founded 2014, Ahmedabad
Capermint Technologies Pvt Ltd, founded by Vivek Shah. Capermint-reported: 650+ customers worldwide and over 200 specialists across game design, art, engineering and QA. Associate Member of IEIC and a member of GESIA.
Planning a release across the Gulf? Our guide to game development companies in Saudi Arabia covers Saudi age ratings and Arabic localisation.
Game development in Dubai and the UAE: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a game development company for a Dubai project?
Capermint's typical ranges are $10K–$40K (about AED 37K–147K) for a single-game MVP, $40K–$120K for a mid-scope multiplayer game and $120K+ for large custom builds. A white-label or turnkey casino for a licensed operator typically costs $35K–$120K. Art volume, platforms, online features and Arabic support move the price, and a final quote follows a scoping call.
How long does it take to develop a game?
It depends on scope. Typical examples from our published ranges: a poker MVP takes 60–90 days, a full-featured multi-platform Ludo game about 12–20 weeks, and a turnkey casino platform 6–10 weeks once licences and provider agreements are in place. Casual games and larger custom titles are dated during scoping, usually after a playable prototype.
Do I need a studio based in Dubai, or can a remote team deliver?
A remote team can deliver if the brief is clear and feedback is quick. Capermint runs UAE projects from its delivery studio in Ahmedabad, India, which is 1.5 hours ahead of UAE time all year, so calls fit inside both working days. Choose a UAE-based studio if you need frequent in-person workshops or a UAE contracting entity.
What should I send to get an accurate quote?
A short brief is enough to start: game concept and genre, target platforms, engine preference, art style and references, languages (including whether Arabic is needed), monetisation, online features, launch date and budget range. If real money is involved, name the licensed operator and jurisdiction. We reply with a recommended scope, milestones, timeline and price range.
Can you build games in Arabic with a right-to-left interface?
Yes. When Arabic is in scope we plan right-to-left layouts, Arabic fonts, mixed Arabic and English strings and text expansion from the first sprint, and keep strings in separate files for translators. Arabic translation and native-speaker review are quoted as a separate line item or supplied by your team, so you see the cost before production starts.
Do games released in the UAE need an age rating?
In 2018 the UAE's then National Media Council introduced age ratings for video games of 3, 7, 12, 16, 18 and 21, covering console, PC, online and mobile games. Federal media oversight is moving to the National Media Authority, created in December 2025. Requirements differ by distribution channel, so confirm what applies to your release before launch. This is general information, not legal advice.
How does the UAE Child Digital Safety Law affect a new game?
Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2025 took effect on 1 January 2026 with a one-year grace period, so full enforcement is expected from January 2027. Gaming platforms that operate in the UAE or target UAE users need risk-based age verification, parental tools such as daily time limits, and custodian consent before processing data of children under 13. Implementing rules were still pending at launch, so confirm the current position with counsel. This is not legal advice.
Can you build real-money or betting games for the UAE?
Only for an operator licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). Unlicensed gambling is a criminal offence in the UAE. Suppliers may also need a GCGRA gaming-related vendor licence. Operators are responsible for licensing; we build to the technical requirements of the target jurisdiction. This is not legal advice.
Who owns the source code and game assets?
Ownership is set in the project contract before production starts. We recommend listing source code, repositories, project files, original art, documentation and handover steps explicitly, and naming any third-party licenses or pre-existing tools separately with their terms. That way you know exactly what you receive at each milestone and at final handover.
Which engagement models can UAE companies choose?
Three: a fixed-scope project with agreed milestones and price, a dedicated team billed monthly that works inside your sprints, or co-development and staff augmentation, where our specialists join your existing studio for art, engineering or QA. You can start with a fixed-scope prototype and move to a dedicated team for production and LiveOps.
Get a scoped plan for your UAE game
Send your concept, platforms, languages, budget range and launch date. We reply with a recommended scope, milestones, timeline and price range, and flag the UAE rules that affect the build.
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