Events
BenQ Hosts a FIFA World Cup Screening

BenQ hosted a FIFA World Cup match screening on its sports immersive True 4K HDR projector TK800, yesterday. The screening was hosted for football fanatics to experience the Hyper-Realistic Video quality of the projector, said the company. Read Gadget Voize’s review of the BenQ TK800.
BenQ claims that it is ranked number 1 in the Middle East in the 4K projector segment. It also says that it outpaced its sales numbers in Q1 2018 in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region. “Keeping in line with the brand’s innovative practices, the launch of the TK800 was a class apart. The casual ambience invited people from the media to experience firsthand the magnificence of the projector. BenQ TK800 was the perfect medium for the ongoing FIFA World Cup, capturing its every movement and giving the audience a thrill of the live match,” said the company.
The projector offers stunning picture quality with its 8.3 million distinct pixels with XPR technology, giving each frame clarity. Perfectly capturing the fast-paced action, its colour accuracy and 4K lens system technology ensures no blur and captures each vivid detail. As the action on the field intensifies, its 4K colour wheel further sharpens the different hues on the screen. And custom Football & Sports modes with powerful sound put in the action as if you’re in the stadium, all in a stylish, compact design with easy setup.
Manish Bakshi, Managing Director at BenQ Middle East & Turkey said, “The launch of the TK800 comes at an opportune time, with the FIFA World Cup on. The chance to show world-class football skills on a projector like the TK800 was one we wanted to show firsthand. The idea was to provide a demonstration of the product rather just provide theoretical literature on it. The projector has been designed specifically to provide sports lovers with the best sound & viewing experience and is equipped with BenQ’s latest technology, making it a requisite addition this World Cup.”

Cool Stuff
NARUTO THE GALLERY Experience Makes its Middle East Debut in Dubai

Celebrating over 20 years of the global anime sensation NARUTO, fans in the Middle East will have a rare opportunity to experience the iconic world of their favourite ninja, as NARUTO THE GALLERY experience makes its debut outside of Japan, for the first time in Dubai. This unique experience, direct from Tokyo, will run from January 31 to April 6, 2025, at The Concourse Convention Center, near the Dubai Outlet Mall, marking the first time outside East Asia that the beloved anime’s legacy will be celebrated on this scale.
Created to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the NARUTO anime’s debut in Japan, this immersive experience takes fans on a journey through the series’ iconic moments, themes, and characters. Featuring vivid life-size installations and exclusive artwork from the animation, NARUTO THE GALLERY offers an opportunity to step into Naruto Uzumaki’s world, including rare behind-the-scenes content from the series’ origins. From the vibrant landscapes of Konoha (Hidden Leaf Village) to unforgettable battles and intimate character portrayals, visitors can relive every pivotal moment of the beloved anime.
Experience Includes:
- Authentic Artifacts and Original Artwork: View never-before-seen concept art and materials used in creating the series, transported directly from Japan
- Interactive Displays: Fans can engage with iconic scenes and immerse themselves into the universe of NARUTO through dynamic video presentations on large screens and multiple monitors.
- Fans can engage with iconic scenes and participate in interactive exhibits that immerse them in the universe of NARUTO
- Exclusive Merchandise: Limited-edition NARUTO memorabilia and exclusive merchandise, making it a must-visit for any anime fan
As a landmark event for regional anime fans, NARUTO THE GALLERY reflects the global influence of Japanese anime and its cultural crossover appeal. With Dubai known as a bridge between East and West, this event reinforces the city’s position as a hub for innovative and world-class entertainment experiences.
This is a ticketed event, with tickets starting at AED 60 per person. Tickets can be purchased online through Platinumlist or at the venue itself. The exhibition will be held in The Concourse Convention Center, which is seamlessly connected to the Dubai Outlet Mall.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with NARUTO THE GALLERY Executive Committee to bring such an authentic and original experience to Dubai,” said Ahmad Khalifa, CEO, Akiba. “Al Ahli Group and Akiba are committed to growing the pop-culture scene in the region, spanning from West Asia to Africa, and introducing year-long, themed experiences and events, celebrating various iconic properties. And kicking off our series of events with NARUTO THE GALLERY, is extra special, as we celebrate NARUTO’s 20-year legacy by creating an incredible experience for anime fans in the region to connect with the series on a personal level.”
“We are truly honoured to bring NARUTO THE GALLERY to Dubai as its next destination. Through this exhibition, we hope to provide as many fans as possible with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history and legacy of NARUTO,” said the NARUTO THE GALLERY Executive Committee.
Bikes
Bollywood Stars to Blaze the Track at Dubai Autodrome for ‘DSBK Middle East Championship’

Dubai is gearing up for an electrifying fusion of speed and stardom as the ‘DSBK Middle East Championship’ takes centre stage at the iconic Dubai Autodrome Racing Circuit on February 2, 2025. For the first time, some of Bollywood’s biggest celebrities will swap the red carpet for racing helmets, promising an adrenaline-pumping showdown like never before. Some of the Bollywood favourite stars, including Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Vivek Oberoi, Gauahar Khan, and Salman Yusuff Khan, among others, will be participating and riding in this high-octane motorsport extravaganza.
The event is equally igniting interest and quickly gaining traction in the country as well, for its never-seen-before blend of Bollywood glamour with the thrill of superbike racing. As the UAE’s premier superbike championship, DSBK Racing has carved a niche for itself in the region’s motorsport scene. The event provides an opportunity to immerse in edge-of-the-seat racing action, engaging family-friendly activities, and a seamless experience with free entry and parking, ensuring inclusivity for all visitors.
Beyond the high-speed action, the event boasts an array of entertainment options, including live DJ performances, a dedicated children’s play zone, a diverse range of food trucks, an interactive fan zone, and exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with racers, influencers and celebrities. DSBK Racing’s Founder and celebrated racer Nasir Syed, along with Co-Founder Abdul Samee shared their vision for the championship and said, “The DSBK Middle East Championship is more than just a race; it’s a movement to promote responsible riding and nurture motorsport culture in the region. We aim to establish DSBK Racing as a marquee event on the Middle East’s motorsport calendar.”
In a major announcement, DSBK Racing has also unveiled two groundbreaking initiatives. The DSBK Racing Academy, UAE’s first-ever Superbike training academy, is aimed at cultivating the next generation of racing talent through structured training programs for aspiring riders. Additionally, DSBK Racing is committed to fostering a passionate community of riders, families, and motorsport enthusiasts, offering an experience that extends beyond races to include education and entertainment.
Events
Mortal Kombat 1 Pro Kompetition: Season 2 Program

Warner Bros. Games, NetherRealm Studios, and RTS today announced the schedule and program details for the Mortal Kombat 1 Pro Kompetition: Season 2, marking the return of the global esports program featuring Mortal Kombat 1. Kombatants of all ranks will have a chance to kompete for a cut of the $255,000 prize pool across a variety of live, in-person events in North America, Latin America, South America, and Europe, as well as multiple online tournaments.
Season 2 will begin with Pro Kompetition Mexico, an in-person event hosted in Mexico City on Feb. 22, and the program will culminate at the Final Kombat World Championship, scheduled for September 2025. For more information or to register for an event, visit the Mortal Kombat 1 Pro Kompetition online hub.
A new trailer for the Mortal Kombat 1 Pro Kompetition: Season 2 was released, including highlights from past events, along with a new look at upcoming guest fighters, Conan the Barbarian and T-1000 Terminator. Conan the Barbarian will be released on Jan. 21 as part of the early access period for Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Expansion owners, followed by wide availability on Jan. 28. Featuring the likeness of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role of the title character, the towering warrior from the Conan the Barbarian (1982) film will be available for use during tournament play when Season 2 begins. The official Conan the Barbarian gameplay trailer will debut on tomorrow’s Kombat Kast, giving fans a deeper dive into this powerful fighter. Release timing and availability for T-1000 Terminator will be announced at a later date.
The road to the Final Kombat World Championship will have four different paths. There will be 10 in-person events, each with 1 vs. 1 double-elimination brackets where players can earn points towards their global leaderboard ranking. The top eight players with the most leaderboard points from in-person events will earn a spot in Final Kombat.
Mortal Kombat 1 Pro Kompetition in-person events include:
- Pro Kompetition Mexico – Mexico City, Mex. (Feb. 22-23)
- Viennality – Vienna, Austria (March 1-2)
- Texas Showdown – Houston, Texas (March 28-30)
- gamescom latam – São Paulo, Brazil (April 30 – May 4)
- Combo Breaker – Chicago, Ill. (May 23-25)
- CEO Fighting Game Championships – Orlando, Fla. (June 13-15)
- Brussels Challenge – Brussels, Belgium (Spring/Summer 2025)
- Evo 2025 – Las Vegas, Nev. (Aug. 1-3)
- Blink Respawn – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Summer 2025)
- VSFighting – Birmingham, U.K. (Summer/Fall 2025)
The winner of the Pro Kompetition event at Evo will also automatically qualify for a spot in Final Kombat.
Additionally, players can kompete in online Pro Kompetition tournaments based on their location, with divisions and sub-divisions broken out by geographic region, including the North American League (North America East and North America West), InterKontinental Kombat (Europe East, Europe West, Oceanic, and Middle East), and Liga Latina (Brazil, Mexico, South America North, and South America South).
Each regional division will have two online qualifier events and one online regional final, with 10 online players earning a spot in Final Kombat – two winners from the North American League, four winners from InterKontinental Kombat, and four winners from Liga Latina. Please note, that participation in online tournaments will not award points towards the global leaderboard. Players must participate in any of the 10 in-person events to add points to their leaderboard ranking.
The remaining final spot will be awarded to the winner of the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) event, an open in-person tournament that will be held at the Final Kombat location. The winner of the LCQ will round out the 20-player field kompeting in Final Kombat.
All 20 players kompeting in Final Kombat will be split into four groups of five players and kompete in a round-robin format. The top two players from each group, eight total, will advance to the final bracket and kompete in a double-elimination format, with all players starting from the winner’s side. The winner of the final bracket will become the Final Kombat World Champion. The exact timing and location for Final Kombat will be confirmed at a later date.
The Pro Kompetition will allow fans to experience all of the high-level match-ups and heated battles with more than 100 hours of live kompetition over 20 days, which can be viewed at Twitch.tv/NetherRealm, YouTube.com/MortalKombat, and Facebook.com/MortalKombat.
Pro Kompetition participants will have an opportunity to kompete in tournament matches with characters from Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, the recent expansion for Mortal Kombat 1, the latest instalment in the acclaimed videogame franchise developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios. Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns is available now digitally for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, the Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), including a story expansion with playable fighters Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, Conan the Barbarian (available beginning Jan. 21), and T-1000 Terminator (release date to be announced).
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