tabletop.me Gaming Convention 2026 in Dubai

tabletop.me Gaming Convention 2026 in Dubai returns to The Concourse at Dubai Outlet Mall for three days of board games, trading card games, miniatures and role-playing, and the point of it is to play rather than browse. The organisers describe it as the Middle East’s only convention fully dedicated to tabletop gaming, and the scale backs that up: 8,500 square metres of floor space, more than 250 playable games and over 20 tournaments with room for more than 1,000 competitors.

Doors open at 4pm on Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday, with every day running until 10pm, so there is plenty of time to sit down at a table and lose an afternoon.

The convention in numbers

The headline figures give a good sense of what you are walking into:

• 250+ playable games, including more than 100 in Arabic.
• Over 60 Game Masters running demos and sessions across the floor.
• 58 artists and 18 game designers in attendance, with exhibitors from several countries.
• 20+ tournaments covering board games, trading card games, miniatures and even speed puzzling.

The Arabic games count is worth underlining. For families and players who would rather learn a new game in Arabic, that is a large and genuinely useful selection.

A walk round the zones

The floor is split into named areas, each with its own focus.

Open Gaming Hall and Tabletop Commons

The Open Gaming Hall is where most people start. Every booth has demos led by professional Game Masters, so you can be taught a game from scratch rather than reading a rulebook. Tabletop Commons is set aside as a space to play with friends.

RPG Realms and the Main Stage

RPG Realms hosts immersive role-playing sessions run by expert Storytellers, ideal if you have always wanted to try a tabletop RPG but never had a group. The Main Stage carries live talks, guest panels, activities and more role-playing sessions through the weekend.

Classics Majlis

The Classics Majlis gives traditional games a relaxed home with an Arabian twist: chess, backgammon, Jackaroo, puzzles and other favourites.

Miniatures Zone and Tabletop Workshop

The Miniatures Zone covers building, painting and playing with miniatures, while the Tabletop Workshop offers hands-on sessions with creators and professionals.

Artist and Game Designer Alley

This is where you meet the people behind the games. Expect art and merchandise, live sketching and the chance to playtest games that have not been released yet.

Games Market and Marketplace

The tabletop.me Games Market stocks modern board games, expansions, accessories and show exclusives. The separate Marketplace leans towards TCG singles and pop culture collectibles.

The tournament line-up

Competitive players have a packed schedule. Friday brings Root, a Hokm Cup for card players and a Magic: The Gathering Casual Commander event. Saturday is the busiest board game day, with Catan, Splendor and Dune Imperium: Uprising, plus Grand Archive, the One Piece Card Game Treasure Cup, Magic: The Gathering Duel Commander and Cyberpunk on the card side. Sunday closes with Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride: Europe, Unmatched and Terraforming Mars, alongside Magic: The Gathering Standard, Riftbound, a Star Wars: Unlimited Planetary Qualifier, the Yu-Gi-Oh! WCQ Open UAE, a GUNDAM Card Game tournament and a 500-piece speed puzzling event for pairs. The Warhammer 40K Golden Ticket Event runs across the weekend.

Tournament places are add-ons that you choose when buying a ticket, and each one needs a same-day entry ticket. Places are subject to availability, and TCG and miniatures players must bring their deck or army lists.

Who it suits, and bringing children

tabletop.me works for serious card players chasing qualifier spots, curious beginners who want a Game Master to teach them, and families looking for a screen-light weekend activity. There is no age restriction. Children aged seven and under do not need a ticket, and a Kids Play Zone offers age-appropriate activities for under-8s. Players aged 8 to 12 count as Junior Gamers and need a Junior ticket, available as a one-day or three-day pass, just like the Regular tickets.

The organisers suggest bringing your ticket (printed or as a QR code), valid ID for tournaments or pre-order pickups, a charged phone and power bank, a water bottle and, if you like, your own favourite games.

The Concourse at Dubai Outlet Mall

The Concourse sits on the Dubai to Al Ain Road (E66), around 20 minutes’ drive from Downtown Dubai. The venue is fully accessible, with ramps and lifts. Dubai Outlet Mall has parking for more than 6,000 cars next to The Concourse, shuttle buses run from designated pickup points (details are shared on social media during the show) and public buses 66 and 67 run from Bur Dubai Bus Station in about 50 minutes.

Outside food and drink are not allowed, but partner board game cafés and other brands serve food inside The Concourse, the DOM Food Court is about three minutes’ walk away and there is a Lulu supermarket directly below.

For more weekend ideas, see our workshops and kids’ events in Dubai, or browse things to do in November and things to do in Dubai.