DUBAI: When tabletop.me opens its doors in Dubai this November, it will mark the Middle East’s first major tabletop gaming convention, but, along with that, it will also be a celebration of something far older: human connection.
“We’ve been tabletop gaming for 8,000 years as a species,” said organizer Mark Azzam, an airline pilot turned entrepreneur and founder who has made it his mission to connect people through games.
“The oldest board found in Egypt dates back to 4000 or 5000 B.C. And yet, this digital world we’ve built has only existed for about 30 years. I find it sad that we’d lose what we’ve been doing for millennia, being together.”
In an era dominated by virtual entertainment and artificial intelligence, tabletop.me aims to remind people of the joy of gathering around a physical board. “You never see someone frowning at a tabletop session,” Azzam said. “Everyone smiles, everyone laughs, everyone connects.”
The three-day event, to be held from Nov. 7-9 at the Dubai Outlet Mall, is designed for both newcomers and seasoned gamers. For beginners, the biggest hurdle — learning the rules — is removed. “The biggest barrier to entry is the rulebook,” explained Azzam in an interview with Arab News. “You buy a game, take it home, and think, ‘One day I’ll learn this.’ At tabletop.me, our trained game masters are there to guide you, so there’s no barrier. Just come, play, and enjoy.”
He added that this “introductory spirit” is key: “It’s all about opening up something new, especially for families. Here, parents, kids, and grandparents can all share the table.”
While many still associate board games with Monopoly or Risk, modern tabletop games offer more creativity and strategy, said Azzam. “Monopoly is three hours long and always the same. Modern games change every time you play,” he said. “We have a big battle to fight against these old perceptions, but once people try the new generation of games, they never turn back.”
Beyond gaming, tabletop.me features workshops, industry talks and tournaments. But it’s also built for cross-generational fun. “We have the ‘Tiny Tabletop’ area for kids aged 4 to 8, with face painting, bouncy castles, and games that spark imagination,” Azzam said. “We’re even hosting workshops that teach parents how to be dungeon masters for their kids.”
There’s also space for tradition. A “Classic Corner” will celebrate beloved regional games like chess, backgammon, and jackaroo — “a nod to the timeless play that connects generations.”
Above all, Azzam hopes tabletop.me will unite the region’s fragmented gaming community. “Connection and unity — that’s my dream,” he said. “Different leaders, different groups and communities, all coming together under one big banner.”
