Qiddiya City has been signed as the nexus partner of the inaugural Esports World Cup, a global esports tournament taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this summer.
The new Qiddiya gaming and esports district will serve as the official home of the Esports World Cup for the next three years.
Running from July to August 2024, the Esports World Cup will host major tournaments in titles including StarCraft II, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Garena Free Fire.
Abdullah Aldawood, managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), said: “Our strategic partnership with the Esports World Cup shows our commitment to the gaming and esports communities.
Esports event to host major tournaments
“Through innovative partnerships and creation of world-class assets, Qiddiya City aims to become a global gaming and entertainment hub.”
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “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.”
Starting this year, Qiddiya City will also be the presenting partner of two venues – the Elite Player Lounge and the Esports Arena.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns both Qiyyida and Savvy Games Group, the Esports World Cup Federation’s parent company.
Qiddiya’s gaming and esports district features four venues for global events. The Populous-designed arena will offer the largest combined amount of video screens of any esports arena in the world, as well as 4D haptic seats.
The facility is designed to feel like a fantasy world. It includes a gaming arcade, a food ‘souk’, and a retail and immersive entertainment zone.
Images courtesy of Qiddiya Investment Company
