A $280 Million Esports Island in Abu Dhabi? True Gamers’ Award Win Sparks Doubts

Abu Dhabi, UAE –

In March 2024, a Dubai-based company called True Gamers announced one of the boldest projects in the gaming world—a $280 million "Esports Island" in Abu Dhabi. Promised as the world’s first esports-centric island, it was supposed to house futuristic arenas, gamer-themed resorts, villas, creator zones, and more. The project went viral.

But over a year later, there’s one big question:

Where is it?

Where Dreams Meet Reality: The Island That Isn't?

True Gamers claimed the island would rise between Al Bandar and Al Dana on Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha Beach—just minutes from Yas Island and Zayed International Airport. Concept art painted a dazzling picture of an esports utopia.

Yet, satellite images and on-ground inspections show no signs of construction. There are no cranes, no government signage, and no official acknowledgment from the Abu Dhabi administration.

 

 

Despite the company's claim of government collaboration, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)—which typically leads entertainment infrastructure—has made no public statements about this “Esports Island.”

We are attempting to reach the Abu Dhabi government for confirmation and will update this article once we receive a response.

True Gamers: Who Are They?

Founded in 2019, True Gamers has operated esports lounges in the UAE and Eastern Europe. They speak confidently about revolutionizing gaming infrastructure—but until now, they’ve had no known background in large-scale real estate or public-private mega projects.

Despite claiming they're in the “final stages of fundraising” for the $280 million project, no investor names, contractors, or permits have been disclosed. We reached out to multiple major VCs in the UAE—none said they were involved.

Even more confusing: A designer once alleged True Gamers used unauthorized architectural renders in early pitches, raising eyebrows around the project’s legitimacy.

Winning an Award – With What Track Record?

Adding to the intrigue, True Gamers recently won the Best in Esports category at the MENA Games Industry Awards 2025, where heavyweight nominees like the Esports World Cup were also in the running. True Gamers won the Best in Esports category this year—beating out giants like the Esports World Cup, which in 2024 held the largest esports event in history with a staggering $60 million prize pool. The 2025 edition is slated to go even bigger, with a $70 million prize pool across multiple games and global teams.

Despite that, True Gamers walked away with the win.

It’s hard not to question what the selection criteria were and whether the MENA region—still developing its esports knowledge base—understood the difference between operational scale and brand presentation. It feels like optics won over outcome.

 

 

This raised eyebrows in the industry. Many questioned:

What esports tournaments or IPs have True Gamers actually executed in 2024-25 in the MENA region?

 

 

 

A thorough check reveals no major public-facing esports events or tournaments hosted or organized by True Gamers in that period. This makes their award victory puzzling at best—and controversial at worst.

Interestingly, this reporter had earlier published a glowing report on the Esports Island announcement, believing in its vision. But after digging deeper, it seems the project is more speculative than structural—for now.

Is This a Scam?

“Scam” is a strong word—but so are the red flags.

In the current climate of overhyped metaverse, AI, and esports projects, high-production announcements don’t always mean real-world execution.

There’s no public record of land acquisition, no known regulatory filings, and no trace of construction.

We’ve contacted True Gamers’ founders for clarification, but have not received a response. Updates will follow if and when they reply.

Final Verdict

The UAE is no stranger to bold ideas, and visionary projects are often real here. But until shovels hit the ground and real permits surface, True Gamers’ Esports Island remains a well-edited trailer with no full movie.

For now, it's all render, no reality.