The Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC) at the American University in Dubai (AUD) hosted a two-day intensive Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) Masterclass on February 5–6, 2026, as part of its Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development.
Delivered in collaboration with WILD UNLIMITED, NOETA Academy, and DMCC, the masterclass reflects AUD’s industry-integrated approach to game design education, providing students with hands-on exposure to professional tools and real-world production workflows. Participants were introduced to Unreal Editor for Fortnite and guided through the full creative pipeline of building, testing, and preparing interactive experiences for release within the Fortnite ecosystem.
Over the two days, students progressed from foundational tool familiarity to applied practice in UEFN workflows, environment creation, and interactive gameplay implementation. A highlight of the masterclass was a build challenge in which participants created a playable digital replica of the AUD campus inside Fortnite. The exercise translated a real-world environment into an interactive digital experience while strengthening skills in design thinking, iteration, collaboration, and technical execution.
AUD’s Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development is designed to prepare students for careers across game design, interactive media, and emerging digital technologies. The program combines creative design, storytelling, programming fundamentals, user experience, and production pipelines, while emphasizing experiential learning and direct engagement with industry partners. Students graduate with a strong foundation in both the creative and technical dimensions of game development, aligned with global industry standards.
The masterclass also aligns with Dubai’s ambition to expand its gaming and interactive media ecosystem, contributing to talent development in line with the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33), which aims to grow the sector’s economic impact and position Dubai as a global hub for gaming and interactive media.
Following the masterclass, AUD hosted the Wild Meetup on February 6, 2026, bringing together partners, educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from Dubai’s gaming and creative technology sectors. The event provided students enrolled in the GDD program with opportunities to connect directly with industry leaders, explore collaboration pathways, and gain insight into career trajectories.
Together, the masterclass and leadership meetup underscored AUD’s role in delivering industry-aligned game design education while contributing to the growth of a connected and future-focused gaming ecosystem in Dubai.
The meetup featured an industry panel moderated by Sam Shami, Founder and CEO of WILD UNLIMITED. The discussion brought together Belal Jassoma, Senior Director, Tech Ecosystems at DMCC; Professor Iyad Alsabouni, Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development at AUD; Wadih Al Sayah, CEO of 10F Creators; Mahmoud Alkawadri, Founder and Director of NOETA Academy; and Ahmed Al Helwany, Community Leader and Co-Founder of GDev, offering diverse perspectives on policy, education, industry, and community-driven growth within Dubai’s gaming ecosystem.
