Dubai students bring their campus to Fortnite players worldwide
Classroom project puts a university campus on a global gaming stage
For students at the American University in Dubai, a classroom project is about to reach an audience far beyond campus. Their recreation of their own university inside Fortnite will soon be explored by players around the world, part of a new digital Dubai built for the popular game.
The project, called “Dubai Developed in Fortnite 2033”, is an open-world, team-based experience that lets players worldwide explore a digital recreation of the emirate. The gaming centre of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced it together with Wild Unlimited, the studio that independently developed the ecosystem using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), Epic Games’ platform for building and publishing custom experiences within Fortnite.
The students’ work has drawn attention from those overseeing the project. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at DMCC, noted that the students helped recreate their campus for the experience, taking their work from the classroom to a platform where players everywhere can discover it. Sophie Boutros, Executive Director of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC), added that the contribution offers an early and tangible demonstration of the programme’s potential.
The first edition features a range of recognisable locations, including Al Fahidi Fort, Almas Tower, Uptown Dubai, Skydive Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Kite Beach Dubai, SALT, Dubai Harbour, X-Dubai and the American University in Dubai itself.
Players will not have to wait long. The experience launches globally on November 11, with a public launch event and Wild Game Fest at SALT, Kite Beach, bringing together players, creators and the wider gaming community in person.
For Wild Unlimited, the launch is a milestone in a longer commitment. Sam Shami, the company’s Founder and CEO, said the team is proud to be building this experience in Dubai, for the world, and contributing to the emirate’s vision of becoming a global gaming hub. The November launch marks the start of a longer-term project to expand Dubai’s presence within interactive gaming environments, with additional destinations, gameplay features and opportunities for creators and commercial partners planned for future editions.
Meanwhile, the initiative sits within a wider policy framework. It aligns with the Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033, launched under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Beyond the game itself, the project has supported local gaming talent through UEFN masterclasses delivered by Wild Unlimited at Uptown Dubai and the American University in Dubai.
Further details about the collaboration can be found at https://www.arnnewscentre.ae/en/news/entertainment/dubai-landmarks-set-to-feature-on-fortnite-under-new-collaboration/
One caveat accompanies the launch: the initiative is an independently created Fortnite island and is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc. Whether the students’ campus becomes a destination that gamers return to, and what future editions will add, remains to be seen after November 11.
Q&A
What is 'Dubai Developed in Fortnite 2033'?
It is an open-world, team-based Fortnite experience that lets players worldwide explore a digital recreation of Dubai, developed independently by Wild Unlimited using Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
What role did the students play in the project?
Students at the American University in Dubai recreated their own campus as part of a classroom project, work that drew praise from DMCC and MBRSC leadership.
When and where does the launch take place?
The experience launches globally on November 11, with a public launch event and Wild Game Fest at SALT, Kite Beach.
What caveat accompanies the launch?
It is an independently created Fortnite island and is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc.