Dubai's best gaming centres and arcades

This sprawling venue at Atlantis, The Palm is home to all kinds of fun activities to keep the whole family occupied. There's a bowling alley, a soft play area for the little ones, a restaurant, and even a wave rider machine if you want to make a splash. The main attraction is LEVELS, a gaming area packed with over 50 retro arcade machines like Pac-Man, as well as rides. It's spread out over two floors, and gaming fans are sure to flock to the Xbox area, where they can play Fortnite and other console games.

One of the best gaming destinations for the more dedicated video game fans out there, Rails in Jumeirah Lakes Towers is the ideal place to gather with friends and challenge them to everything from PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Overwatch to Call of Duty and Rocket League. This gaming centre is fully equipped with gadgets and top-flight technical facilities, including hardwired keyboards and high-quality headsets.

This gaming centre has two branches, in Bur Dubai and Al Barsha, and both are ideal for those looking to hone their skills. You can play billiards and snooker as well as blockbusters on top-of-the-line computers. If you really want to challenge yourself, then head on over to the VIP Gaming Room, where Que Club hosts and organises regular tournaments for games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends.

If you're thinking of holidaying in Dubai but don't want to fall behind on your gaming time, then consider a break at Rove Hotel. The chain recently launched the region's first-ever hotel room designed exclusively for gamers, which you can find at both Rove Downtown and Rove At The Park. Each room is equipped with state-of-the-art gear such as chairs with built-in lumbar support. Even the dishes on the room service menu are themed, so you can fuel up on Lara Croft’s calamari and Kitana flatbread.

This virtual reality (VR) gaming hub in the centre of Dubai International Financial Centre offers a chance to take a trip into computer-generated worlds. Be prepared to get truly immersed in battles against zombies, killer robots, and more. Suited for both casual gamers as well as veterans, there's a grand total of 13 games to take on, including Far Cry VR, Engineerium and Singularity. You can even take a group of friends with you to play, and compete against them to find out who's best.

Head to this videogame cafe in Deira if you're looking for wallet-friendly fun, where it's just AED7 for an hour of non-stop gaming, or AED10 if you want to opt for one of the centre's VIP computers instead. As well as playing the likes of FIFA and Counter-Strike, you can also partake in a spot of snooker in the billiards room. There are regular tournaments, and you can also rent out a room with friends if you want to take them all on in a battle royale.