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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.”

DUBAI: Global music icon Mariah Carey is set to headline the 2025–2026 edition of Saadiyat Nights, Abu Dhabi’s open-air concert series held on Saadiyat Island.

The five-time Grammy Award-winning singer will perform in the UAE capital on Feb. 7, 2026, marking her return to the stage after her sold-out debut at the inaugural Saadiyat Nights in January 2024.

Fans are expecting a performance featuring her signature powerhouse vocals, well-known hits and dynamic stage production.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Carey has become one of the best-selling female artists in history, with more than 200 million albums sold worldwide and 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, the most by any solo artist.

Her catalog includes globally recognized songs such as “Hero,” “Fantasy,” “Always Be My Baby,” “Dreamlover,” “We Belong Together,” and “One Sweet Day.”

Carey recently released her 16th studio album, “Here For It All,” on Sept. 26 through Gamma, a music and media company founded by former Apple Music creative director Larry Jackson and music executive Ike Youssef.

The album, her first in nearly eight years, blends elements of pop, R&B, disco and gospel, and features collaborations with American singer and producer Anderson .Paak, American R&B artist Kehlani, Jamaican dancehall performer Shenseea and American gospel group The Clark Sisters.

The record debuted at No. 1 on several Billboard charts, including Top Album Sales, Top Current Album Sales, Top R&B Albums and Independent Albums, continuing Carey’s 35-year streak of placing new releases in the Billboard 200 top 10.

Her 2024 performance at Saadiyat Nights was among the highlights of the series’ debut season, with tickets selling out weeks in advance. Her return in 2026 aims to recreate that atmosphere, offering audiences another opportunity to experience her catalog performed live in an open-air coastal setting.

Carey joins a line-up of international artists confirmed for Saadiyat Nights, including Ludovico Einaudi performing on Jan. 10, Lewis Capaldi on Jan. 17, John Mayer on Jan. 24, Ricky Martin on Jan. 31 and Bryan Adams on Feb. 11.

Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming months.