Insomnia Dubai: Gaming and virtual-reality extravaganza is coming to the UAE

Tickets are now on sale for the show, which is a local offshoot of the UK's biggest gaming festival

Fans will be able to battle it out over a game of 'Call of Duty'. AFP

Prepare to warm up those thumbs, as Insomnia, the UK’s longest-running e-sports and gaming festival, is coming to Dubai.

This is the event’s first time in Dubai, although the popular UK version has been delighting gamers since it launched in 1999 and has also hosted offshoots in Dublin and Cairo. The three-day event will take place from Thursday, October 17 until Saturday, October 19 at the Meydan Grandstand Conference Hall.

Fans of e-sports can expect a range of tournaments offering cash prizes, so prepare to test your mettle as a team of four in Call of Duty or in a one-on-one fight in Tekken 7.

Organisers also promise drone racing, tournaments where exclusive merchandise can be won as top players battle it out on Over-watch, League of Legends and game of the moment Fortnite, a VR gaming section, DJ sets and live performances and a BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) section, where players will be able to hook up for huge LAN parties and gaming sessions.

Insomnia Dubai will also feature an expo section, where leading gaming publishers will showcase their latest releases and offer fans the opportunity to meet some of the industry’s biggest players.

There will also be a huge after-party at Meydan’s trendy Soho Garden DXB, with a list of headline artists and more attractions to be announced closer to the date.

A one-day early-bird ticket is currently available for Dh78.75, while a weekend ticket will set you back Dh210. Family packs are also available, priced at Dh735 for the whole weekend.

For ticket purchase, more information and updated event information head over to the Insomnia Dubai website. And if you're a budding cosplayer who isn't sure where to start, the site even features a costume shopping section to help you on your way.