Back to Games

Back to Games was founded by Mark Azzam in late 2015, opening its first shop at Shams Boutik Mall on Abu Dhabi's Al Reem Island as, by its own account, the UAE's first retailer dedicated specifically to modern board and card games -- a category distinct from the mainstream toy chains that had previously carried only a narrow selection of mass-market titles. The concept expanded to Dubai in 2017, with a second outlet holding its grand launch at Times Square Center on Sheikh Zayed Road on 24 March 2017. The store stocks board games, card games, role-playing systems, tabletop miniatures, and the paints and hobby supplies used to finish them, and runs in-store events aimed at building a local tabletop community rather than simply moving stock. Back to Games has since grown to three physical locations across Abu Dhabi and Dubai -- including a further branch at Town Centre Jumeirah -- alongside an e-commerce operation, positioning it as the UAE's specialist alternative to general-purpose toy retailers for tabletop hobbyists.