• Immersive Gamebox, which promises a hyper-immersive, gear-free gaming experience, has opened in Dubai and Sharjah. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Immersive Gamebox, which promises a hyper-immersive, gear-free gaming experience, has opened in Dubai and Sharjah. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The outlets are in Magic Planet entertainment centres in City Centre Mirdif in Dubai and City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah
    The outlets are in Magic Planet entertainment centres in City Centre Mirdif in Dubai and City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah
  • Visors serve as the only gear inside the game rooms
    Visors serve as the only gear inside the game rooms
  • Inside one of the game rooms
    Inside one of the game rooms
  • Squid Game experience with three players
    Squid Game experience with three players
  • Visitors play Dalgona, part of the Squid Game experience
    Visitors play Dalgona, part of the Squid Game experience
  • Immersive Gamebox utilises high-tech rooms equipped with patented touch screens, 3D motion tracking and surround sound
    Immersive Gamebox utilises high-tech rooms equipped with patented touch screens, 3D motion tracking and surround sound
  • Games are made for two to six players and are meant to be competitive
    Games are made for two to six players and are meant to be competitive
  • More Immersive Gamebox outlets are being planned in the UAE
    More Immersive Gamebox outlets are being planned in the UAE

Inside Immersive Gamebox, a new interactive gaming concept in the UAE


  • English
  • Arabic

A new immersive gaming concept, where players use their entire body to interact with a game, has made its way to Dubai and Sharjah from London.

Immersive Gamebox, which utilises high-tech rooms equipped with patented touch screens, 3D motion tracking and surround sound, are similar to virtual reality games, but promise an almost gearless experience. Players only need to wear visors for what the company calls a "hyper-immersive" experience.

Two Immersive Gamebox branches have opened within Magic Planet outlets in City Centre Mirdif in Dubai and City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah, with more being planned across the UAE.

The games at the newly launched Gamebox typically run for 15 to 30 minutes, but some titles last up to an hour. Photo: Majid Al Futtaim
The games at the newly launched Gamebox typically run for 15 to 30 minutes, but some titles last up to an hour. Photo: Majid Al Futtaim

How it works

The games in Immersive Gamebox are made for two to six players and are meant to be competitive, with each player donning a visor. Once a game is selected, teams are created and the competition begins. There are currently 12 titles to choose from, including the popular Squid Game and Angry Birds. Other titles include Alien Aptitude Test, Ticket to Mars and Psychedelic Mansion, as well as Temple of Coins and Trivia Mash-up.

The games, which are also available in Arabic, typically run for 15 to 30 minutes — but some titles last up to an hour.

First launched in 2019, Immersive Gamebox was cofounded by Will Dean, its chief executive, and David Spindler, who serves as the company's chief financial officer. Dean was the founder and former chief executive of the popular endurance event Tough Mudder.

The gaming platform has since expanded to 16 locations across Europe and the US, including London, New York and Berlin. It plans to open 250 locations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East over the next three years.

“The Middle East has a burgeoning leisure and entertainment sector and, we look forward to leveraging the growth opportunities that the Emirates presents,” Dean tells The National.

He says he is particularly excited about the localisation of some of the titles.

“It’s been great to see our content transformed and localised into Arabic,” he says.

“UAE is becoming a hotspot in the entertainment space. So many production studios are working with the region and it’s been inspiring to watch all the content that’s being filmed in the region recently.”

Tickets to Immersive Gamebox start at Dh70 per person. More information is available at immersivegamebox.com

If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

The%20specs
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Rankings

ATP: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts; 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320; 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 ( 1); 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 ( 1); 6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 ( 1); 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3); 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 ( 2); 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960; 9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 ( 1); 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)

WTA: 1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts ( 3); 2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 ( 4); 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2); 4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 ( 1); 5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 ( 3); 6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4); 7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940; 8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 ( 1); 9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6); 10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 ( 1)

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

Company%20Profile
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Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyveGeo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abdulaziz%20bin%20Redha%2C%20Dr%20Samsurin%20Welch%2C%20Eva%20Morales%20and%20Dr%20Harjit%20Singh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECambridge%20and%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESustainability%20%26amp%3B%20Environment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%20plus%20undisclosed%20grant%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVenture%20capital%20and%20government%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline

1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Denis%20Villeneuve%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Timothee%20Chamalet%2C%20Zendaya%2C%20Austin%20Butler%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS

5pm: Rated Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Abubakar Daud

6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Tair, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

Company%20profile
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Updated: February 14, 2023, 4:06 PM