Online sports gaming takes root in the UAE after successful Fifa World Cup

Online sports gaming has found a foothold in the United Arab Emirates following the successful FIFA World Cup. Last year, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) authorized Play971 to operate as the country's first licensed online gaming platform. The launch coincided with the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, which saw record interest from the region due to a record eight Arab teams qualifying for the tournament in North America.

Commercial Director for iGaming at Play971, Philippa Bowland, noted that the World Cup provided a significant boost to sports gaming in the UAE. She stated, "The response has validated everything we set out to do... We saw strong and sustained growth in both registrations and active players throughout the tournament, culminating in an extraordinary level of engagement during the final itself."

Morocco was the most popular team, attracting the largest increase in player engagement and experiencing the greatest odds improvement.

Bowland highlighted that some of the most compelling activity centered around specific fixtures, such as those involving Portugal, Brazil, England, Spain, and Belgium. The most engaging moments often involved multiple communities engaging in the game simultaneously, which explains the high volume of individual predictions during fixtures like France v Spain.

Even after the World Cup, online gaming in the UAE remains active, with popular leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and UEFA Champions League consistently attracting fan engagement. Additionally, cricket, a favorite among the region's large South Asian population, has also gained traction.

To further legitimize sports gaming in the UAE, former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee was appointed as the platform's brand ambassador. Bowland emphasized that while there is room for growth, the priority is to consolidate in the UAE and create a dependable, regulated platform. She explained that this includes age and identity verification, player controls, and independently certified technology partners to ensure fairness, security, and transparency.

The GCGRA, established in 2023, oversees the regulation of commercial gaming in the UAE, with the platform being the first and only licensed operation under its framework.