Event Operations Manager, MENA

Xsolla, a global commerce platform for game developers, is recruiting for an Event Operations Manager, MENA to join its Global Experiential Marketing team. The role centers on bringing major conference and event brands to Xsolla’s new Dubai events hub and Expo venue, working alongside the Director of Marketing EMEA and the Global Head of Event Sales to attract partners and deliver on-site experiences. The ideal candidate enjoys building solid relationships with organizers and turning negotiation and planning into flawless events for a global audience.

The position is in-office at Xsolla’s Dubai hub and requires regional and international travel up to 25-30%. It’s a hands-on, cross-functional role that suits someone who can manage multiple organizer accounts while shaping a small, capable team to execute complex events. Xsolla’s presence in the game industry spans funding, distribution, marketing and monetization for developers of all sizes, with the Dubai venue representing a new chapter for the company’s growth in the region.

The right person will be a capable relationship manager and project owner who can balance commercial aims with on-site execution, building a team from scratch and guiding events from signing through delivery at the Dubai Expo venue.

Running the Dubai expo slate

In practice, the role centers on owning the MENA event roadmap and budget, with regular updates to the VP of Global Experiential Marketing. It also involves working closely with regional and global marketing leadership to identify and secure global conference brands to host at the Dubai venue, turning those opportunities into live events. Day to day, you’ll lead the deal process for organizers, handling everything from initial relationship-building and contract negotiations to ongoing account management and onboarding into the Xsolla Expo venue.

You’ll serve as the primary contact for organizers hosted in Dubai, maintaining a smooth line of communication from contract signing to event delivery. The job also includes guiding a local team, the Event Operations Coordinator, the Dubai Events Coordinator and the Dubai Events Community Manager, while delivering sponsorship packages and associated deliverables for the Dubai expo and other organizer-led events. Space planning, production needs and on-site setup are coordinated with organizers, and you’ll set and monitor event budgets, tracking spend in multiple currencies. Hotel and travel logistics for staff, coordinated with venues and sourcing agencies, fall under your purview, and you’ll keep a live event roadmap visible to the wider team, including dates, links and organizer details. You’ll oversee creative briefs for the in-house team and ensure timely asset delivery, then lead post-event reporting, budget reconciliation and lessons learned, representing the Dubai hub in cross-functional planning with business development, product and marketing colleagues.

What you’ll bring to the Dubai hub

You’ll need at least five years of professional experience in event marketing or operations, drawing from agency, brand, technology or related backgrounds. Experience in the video games, tech or software space is preferred, ideally in a B2B events or partnerships capacity. A bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications or a related field is required. You should have a proven history of managing complex, multi-stakeholder events from concept through on-site delivery, and be fluent with project management tools such as Jira, Asana, Monday.com, the Atlassian Suite and Google Workspace.

• Must-have: five or more years in event marketing or operations, with relevant B2B gaming or tech partnerships experience
• Must-have: proven ability to manage complex events with multiple stakeholders from idea to on-site execution
• Must-have: a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications or a related field
• Must-have: strong familiarity with Jira, Asana, Monday.com, the Atlassian tools and Google Workspace

• Nice-to-have: a track record of owning event budgets end-to-end, including sponsorship P&L
• Nice-to-have: experience building and guiding a team of events professionals
• Nice-to-have: experience negotiating vendor and venue contracts across several markets
• Nice-to-have: knowledge of the Dubai/MENA events market; Arabic language skills are a plus

Pay and practical details in Dubai

The role is full-time and based on-site at the Dubai hub, with travel up to 25-30% required. A background check will be conducted for the Event Operations Manager, MENA. Xsolla offers a Benefits Program that includes unlimited Flexible Time Off, private health insurance and a personalised career roadmap, along with opportunities for professional development. The company emphasises equality of opportunity and states that all qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, genetics, disability, age or social background. For questions about rights under the UAE Personal Data Protection Law, applicants can contact [email protected].

In this role, you’ll join a team shaping events at a new Dubai hub, collaborating with cross-functional partners and delivering the kinds of large-scale, brand-led experiences that sit at the intersection of gaming, tech and regional growth.

Tips to help you stand out for this role

Put your most relevant experience at the top of your resume, especially any work in event marketing or operations within the gaming, tech or software space, and highlight any Dubai/MENA market exposure if you have it.

Back up must-haves with concrete examples that show you’ve managed complex events end-to-end, including budgets and sponsorship deals, and that you’ve led teams or guided colleagues to deliver on-site requirements.

Prepare for interviews by outlining a clear plan for how you would set up the Dubai hub’s event calendar, coordinate with organizers, and manage vendor contracts; bring a portfolio or case studies that demonstrate space planning, production requirements and post-event reporting.

Ask a smart question about the role’s first 12 months, such as the top events planned for the Dubai hub, how cross-functional teams interact with the event team, or how success will be measured for on-site delivery and sponsor satisfaction.