The Global Games Show and Global Blockchain Show, co-located with the Global AI Show Riyadh, concluded on June 30, 2026, marking a pivotal moment for the convergence of artificial intelligence, decentralized infrastructure, and interactive entertainment. The two-day B2B summit drew 15,000+ registrations and 6,723 attendees, uniting over 100 global speakers and 100 exhibitors from 80+ countries, with a 70% CXO-level delegation.
VAP Group, the organizer, announced VAP Ventures, a strategic initiative to back 100 startups by 2030, signaling strong institutional confidence in the region’s innovation ecosystem. Keynotes by Johnson Yeh (Ambrus Studio) and Virginia Villar Arribas (UN World Food Programme) underscored gaming’s evolution from traditional screens to immersive, AI-driven mobile platforms that require no expensive hardware for esports participation.
Blockchain discussions focused on “invisible blockchain”—gasless transactions, chain abstraction, and seamless onboarding—positioning decentralized networks as critical enterprise infrastructure rather than speculative tools. Meow, Co-Founder of Jupiter, emphasized that decentralized finance now combines strengths of traditional and programmable finance to build a more inclusive system. Meanwhile, Shabir Momin of TorusChain outlined the technologies reshaping enterprise adoption.
Mobile gaming’s dominance emerged as a key economic engine, with titles like PUBG and Mobile Legends Bang Bang democratizing esports across MENA, Asia, and LATAM. The event also highlighted tokenization and DeFi as drivers of digital ownership and new revenue models, rewriting the developer-audience dynamic. Exhibitors including ClubMOS, TorusChain, and Arkonix showcased innovations spanning secure data provenance, cybersecurity, and intelligent infrastructure.
With the Riyadh edition setting a foundation, the momentum will directly influence the agenda for the upcoming Global Games Show and Global Blockchain Show Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the Kingdom’s ambition as a global hub for emerging technologies.
