Nina Walsh, Global Leader, Industry Business Development, Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Media, Entertainment, Games and Sports, explores how the UAE’s limitless digital ambition is fueling innovation across immersive technologies and next-gen content creation.
The UAE is rapidly emerging as a global hub for digital innovation, where gaming, sports, and entertainment converge through cloud-driven transformation. In this exclusive interview, Nina Walsh, Global Leader – Industry Business Development at Amazon Web Services (AWS), offers a front-row view to Tahawultech.com into how AWS is enabling content creators and studios across the region to scale, localise, and deliver immersive experiences. From real-time sports analytics to the rise of Arabic gaming content, Walsh highlights how the region’s openness to possibility is setting the stage for a new era of creativity and connectivity.
Interview Excerpts:
How do you view the UAE’s evolution in digital transformation and what makes the region stand out?
What excites me most about the UAE is its forward-thinking mindset. Unlike more mature markets where discussions focus on optimisation and cost reduction, conversations here are about what’s possible. The openness to innovation and the willingness to explore uncharted territories are energising. The UAE is truly becoming a land of unlimited possibilities, and it’s contagious – more people want to be part of this journey.
What excites me most about the UAE is its forward-thinking mindset. Unlike more mature markets where discussions focus on optimisation and cost reduction, conversations here are about what’s possible. The openness to innovation and the willingness to explore uncharted territories are energising. The UAE is truly becoming a land of unlimited possibilities, and it’s contagious – more people want to be part of this journey.
Gaming is a booming vertical in the Middle East. How is AWS supporting gaming studios and developers to scale and innovate?
Gaming is inherently accessible—you can play from anywhere, anytime. At AWS, we support studios through services like GameLift and real-time streaming. We focus on regional trends and how different age groups engage with content. Additionally, we recently witnessed innovations like in-console concerts, which redefine how audiences connect.
Gaming is inherently accessible—you can play from anywhere, anytime. At AWS, we support studios through services like GameLift and real-time streaming. We focus on regional trends and how different age groups engage with content. Additionally, we recently witnessed innovations like in-console concerts, which redefine how audiences connect.
“Our infrastructure and low-latency services are designed to power immersive and large-scale experiences.”
What are your observations on the growth of the gaming ecosystem across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt?
The ecosystem is expanding rapidly. We’re seeing new studios, new games, and increased community engagement. Investment firms like Mirac Capital in Saudi are actively supporting gaming startups. To match this growth, AWS is hiring more regionally and working directly with customers to help them scale and innovate.
The ecosystem is expanding rapidly. We’re seeing new studios, new games, and increased community engagement. Investment firms like Mirac Capital in Saudi are actively supporting gaming startups. To match this growth, AWS is hiring more regionally and working directly with customers to help them scale and innovate.
Is AWS encouraging the creation of Arabic content in gaming?
While AWS doesn’t create content directly, we provide the infrastructure to support studios that are developing Arabic games or culturally relevant content. Localisation is important to us, and we continue to support developers globally in creating content that resonates with their local communities.
While AWS doesn’t create content directly, we provide the infrastructure to support studios that are developing Arabic games or culturally relevant content. Localisation is important to us, and we continue to support developers globally in creating content that resonates with their local communities.
How is AWS transforming fan engagement in sports through AI and data?
Our work with Formula One is a great example. We help process over 1.1 million data points per second to create engaging fan insights—like tire temperature, pit stop speed, and car distances. In sports like golf, with the PGA Tour, we support remote production and enhance live-streaming experiences using AI and cloud services.
Our work with Formula One is a great example. We help process over 1.1 million data points per second to create engaging fan insights—like tire temperature, pit stop speed, and car distances. In sports like golf, with the PGA Tour, we support remote production and enhance live-streaming experiences using AI and cloud services.
How is AWS navigating convergence across gaming, sports, and entertainment—especially with Gen Z in mind?
The lines between gaming, sports, and media are blurring. Gen Z expects personalised and interactive content. Our Industry Business Unit originally focused on media and entertainment, but we expanded it to include sports and gaming because of this convergence. We’re enabling clients to deliver personalised, scalable experiences that meet the consumption patterns of today’s digital-native generation.
The lines between gaming, sports, and media are blurring. Gen Z expects personalised and interactive content. Our Industry Business Unit originally focused on media and entertainment, but we expanded it to include sports and gaming because of this convergence. We’re enabling clients to deliver personalised, scalable experiences that meet the consumption patterns of today’s digital-native generation.
How do you approach content strategy in a diverse market like the UAE?
For AWS, our role is to power and enable content creators with the right infrastructure and tools. We support customers in demand forecasting, scalability, and performance to help them cater to their diverse audiences effectively.
For AWS, our role is to power and enable content creators with the right infrastructure and tools. We support customers in demand forecasting, scalability, and performance to help them cater to their diverse audiences effectively.
How does AWS ensure scalability, reliability, and low latency for major live events and game launches?
We already have infrastructure in Dubai and Bahrain, with new regions coming up in Saudi Arabia. We also support remote production, so studios don’t need to move equipment across locations. With the introduction of Amazon Kuiper, we’re enabling ultra-remote access too. We offer both native and partner solutions tailored for media, entertainment, and gaming workloads.
We already have infrastructure in Dubai and Bahrain, with new regions coming up in Saudi Arabia. We also support remote production, so studios don’t need to move equipment across locations. With the introduction of Amazon Kuiper, we’re enabling ultra-remote access too. We offer both native and partner solutions tailored for media, entertainment, and gaming workloads.
What role does immersive technology play in content creation, and how is AWS enabling this?
Immersive experiences are becoming a standard expectation, whether through VR headsets like Oculus or real-time avatar interactions. We work closely with customers to minimise latency and optimise performance. Studios can ramp up compute power when needed and scale down after. A great example is our work with Weta FX on Avatar: The Way of Water, where we provided compute power to render complex fluid simulations.
Immersive experiences are becoming a standard expectation, whether through VR headsets like Oculus or real-time avatar interactions. We work closely with customers to minimise latency and optimise performance. Studios can ramp up compute power when needed and scale down after. A great example is our work with Weta FX on Avatar: The Way of Water, where we provided compute power to render complex fluid simulations.
What is your message for the gaming studios and developer community in the UAE?
The UAE is a beacon of innovation and creativity. To the gaming community here: think beyond the limits of what’s been done before. Don’t look back—look forward. AWS will meet you where you are and help you achieve your creative and technical ambitions. Technology is the enabler—your imagination is the driver.
The UAE is a beacon of innovation and creativity. To the gaming community here: think beyond the limits of what’s been done before. Don’t look back—look forward. AWS will meet you where you are and help you achieve your creative and technical ambitions. Technology is the enabler—your imagination is the driver.
