Saudi Arabian real estate megaproject Qiddiya has announced a three-year partnership with the multi-title esports competition Esports World Cup.
As a result of the partnership, the Qiddiya Gaming & Esports District will become the host of the Esports World Cup once construction has been completed. Meanwhile, for 2024, Qiddiya City has been named the presenting partner for Esports World Cup (EWC)’s Elite Player Lounge and Qiddiya Esports Arena.
According to a release, the Elite Player Lounge will be an era designed for EWC players to ‘train, relax, socialise and prepare for matches’. Moreover, around EWC competition venues, Qiddiya Gaming will have its own zones to preview the project’s Gaming & Esports District.
The inaugural Esports World Cup is set to take place later this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both Qiddiya and the Esports World Cup Foundation are projects funded by the Saudi Arabian-government.
Qiddiya’s gaming district was officially revealed in December 2023 alongside the appointment of former Team Liquid COO Mike Milanov to run the project’s esports and gaming developments. However, the Riyadh-based entertainment-focused real estate project itself was first introduced in 2019.
Qiddiya, alongside the Esports World Cup, is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme to diversify its economy. It comes as Saudi Arabia has invested billions into esports — including buying and forming the ESL FACEIT Group. This has been viewed as a controversial move by sections of the community as the country bids to position itself as a hub for esports.
Countless titles have already been announced as part of the lineup for the Esports World Cup including the likes of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG Mobile, among others.
Alongside its partnership with Esports World Cup, the Qiddiya Gaming & Esports District has unveiled ‘Elite Esports Bootcamps’. The facilities can host up to 20 different esports organisations simultaneously and are designed for esports teams to train and prepare for competitions.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, commented: “We are very excited to join forces with Qiddiya City. When we first saw their plans to build a city that will be home to next-generation gaming and entertainment, it was hard to imagine – now, we see the progress in the construction site every day.
“It’s an honour to be involved in this, and to call Qiddiya City the home of the Esports World Cup in a few years.”
Disclaimer: Qiddiya was the Presenting Partner of ESI London 2023, Esports Insider’s esports and games industry festival.
