ClubGG Dubai: Poker Interest in the UAE is at an All-time High

Due to the current strict gambling laws throughout the Middle East, poker interest wasn’t always very high; the arrival of several online communities, coupled with subscription-based platforms, has created an increased opportunity for avid gamers to participate in virtual poker space.

Over the past few years, the ClubGG platform has become increasingly well-known. ClubGG offers its customers access to a mobile subscription-based poker room focused on community and private poker club action rather than traditional online real-cash game participation.

One reason for ClubGG’s growth – mainly among poker players who love poker-themed blogs, poker streams and video logs – is its expanding range of international users, many of them originating from the Middle East, where a massive wave of curiosity surrounds poker.

How Dubai Has Been A Significant Step in The World of Online Poker

Poker has been trying to get a foothold in the Middle East for decades, with much resistance due to gambling laws being generally more restrictive than in some of its Western counterparts. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), however, has been at the forefront in developing the gaming world through its technological and entrepreneurial developments around Dubai. Now, the UAE has even grown an online casino market, which consists of various websites for people wanting to try their luck with different games.

While actual gambling has historically been out of the question, the sheer volume of local and expat residents interested in poker has been on the rise for some time now. That has led to the establishment of numerous online communities catering to this demand. Some of the most notable are popular subscription websites like the DubaiPoker community, which works similarly to some international platforms, and, of course, ClubGG.

All in all, ClubGG Dubai will only cement itself further as a poker-friendly site for players residing within the UAE.

Top UAE Based Professional Poker Players

It’s no secret that the UAE doesn’t currently possess the same developed poker economy as North America or Europe, nevertheless, various players in the UAE are quite successful as International professionals.

Below are some examples:

Walter Treccarichi

Walter Treccarichi, who resides currently in the Dubai region, is among the highest-earning poker players from the United Arab Emirates. With over $2 Million in live tournament earnings, he heads the UAE all-time tournament money list.

Walter’s success is based on consistently cashing in various poker tournaments all around the world. However, he did win the Italian Poker Open Main Event in Slovenia, where he took home $200,000.

Basel Khabazeh

Having played professionally for years, Basel Khabazeh from the UAE now holds over $400k in tournament winnings. Basel also got rewarded the 2022 Global Poker Index (GPI) National Player of the Year award for the UAE.

Eugene Golubchik

Eugene Golubchik has several notable poker achievements. He has a top position on the UAE all-time money list, much of which can be attributed to his remarkable runner-up achievement in a No-Limit Hold’em WSOP Paradise event held back in 2025.

Iraj Parvizi

Another known professional who achieved global fame is Iraj Parvizi, after winning a high-stakes No-Limit Hold’em event at the EPT Monte Carlo series in 2022.

UAE Players Compared to Other Middle Eastern Markets

Dubai is still behind in poker growth compared with other countries in the MENA region.

Israel

Israel has probably created the best Middle East community that contributes to modern poker, including tech and business. As much as strict gambling laws restrict certain activities, many professional poker players play these games and excel on the international stage.

Lebanon

Lebanon has long been identified as a center for live poker within the region, and this is largely thanks to Casino du Liban – the only casino in Lebanon to host poker (and several other games).

Lebanese casino pros, including Joe Hachem (2005 WSOP Main Event champion), Freddy Deeb (two-time WSOP bracelet winner), and Sammy Farha (3-time WSOP bracelet winner and 2003 Main Event runner-up to Chris Moneymaker), have all been major figures in professional poker.

Turkey

For years, Turkish gamblers have been traveling to North Cyprus for all sorts of gambling activities, including live poker tournaments. Moreover, private home-game activities, for those seeking a less formal setting, widely exist in Turkey.

New Gaming Horizon in the UAE

The gaming environment is no stranger to the UAE; the country’s governing bodies introduced a federal gaming authority a few months ago and have already issued its first commercial gaming permit. With this in hand, the UAE’s first casino, opening in partnership with Wynn Resorts, will be the multi-billion-dollar resort in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).

Details of this casino, including poker tournaments, are not yet public, yet market experts see a high likelihood that this will be all-encompassing, including poker as part of the offerings.

Conclusion

Even though the UAE doesn’t yet have a developed poker industry, with the current boom in online games, new development of this massive industry in Dubai, and the presence of talented players already showing skills worldwide, we should expect the UAE’s poker sector to advance very quickly.