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Media City Qatar and SEGA®, the globally renowned Japanese video game company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and expand the gaming industry in Qatar and the wider MENA region. The agreement reflects a shared understandings to fostering innovation, nurturing local talent, and creating culturally relevant content that resonates with Arab audiences.
The agreement follows Media City Qatar’s recent roadshow in Japan, where its leadership met with top executives across media, gaming, and creative industries, including SEGA. The partnership is a tangible outcome of these high-level discussions, paving the way for deeper collaboration between Japan and Qatar in the gaming sector.
Through the MoU, Media City Qatar and SEGA may collaborate to advance the video games industry in Qatar and the wider region by supporting the creation of new titles, which could draw on local talent and production facilities. The agreement will also explore Arabic localization and cultural adaptation, ensuring SEGA’s global titles resonate with regional audiences through content adaptation, voice-overs, subtitles, UX adjustments, and design elements that reflect local context. The agreement also states education and talent development, with joint plans for training programs, workshops, and school-based initiatives in areas such as storytelling, game design, animation, and production, delivered either directly or in partnership with local institutions.
Beyond content and talent, the partnership extends to strategic support and innovation. Media City Qatar may assist SEGA in navigating the local ecosystem through regulatory guidance, and integration into national platforms, while also exploring incentive schemes and innovation funding. Advisory collaboration on intellectual property, licensing, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in content development forms part of the agreement, alongside opportunities for regional co-production and knowledge exchange. These initiatives will enable technology transfer, research, and best-practice sharing to build long-term capacity and strengthen the Arab gaming ecosystem.
Speaking on the occasion, Eng. Jassim Mohamed Al Khori, CEO of Media City Qatar, said:
“This agreement with SEGA marks a pivotal step in building Qatar’s gaming ecosystem at a time when the industry in our region is projected to reach $6.8 billion by 2030. With over 420 million native Arabic speakers worldwide, yet only 3% of online content produced in Arabic, there is a clear opportunity to create and localize games that reflect our language and culture. By combining SEGA’s expertise with Media City Qatar’s platform, we can bring more relevant experiences to Arab players. These efforts are fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, ensuring that the creative industries continue to drive innovation, cultural expression, and economic diversification.”
Shuji Utsumi, President and COO at SEGA, added: “We are pleased to be working with Media City Qatar to look into new opportunities to bring our content closer to players in Qatar and the Arab world. Through this collaboration we aim to understand how we might contribute to the vibrant gaming culture that is taking shape in one of the world’s most dynamic gaming markets.”
This agreement with SEGA builds on Media City Qatar’s expanding role in the gaming sector, from its recent presence at Gamescom 2025, the world’s largest gaming event, to hosting two successful editions of the Media City Qatar Esports Forum. In addition to forging local partnerships, Media City Qatar is working with global leaders to foster talent, drive content creation, and position gaming as one of the core pillars of its ecosystem, advancing Qatar’s ambitions to become a regional hub for gaming, media innovation, and creative expression.
