Earlier today, Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that moving forward, the Esports World Cup will be held annually in Riyadh. It will act as a platform to help the gaming and esports industry and strengthen Saudi Arabia's status as a centre for worldwide esports. It is hailed as the largest global event of its type.
The tournament's debut is anticipated to bring the objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy to life. By 2030, the strategy hopes to add more than SR50 billion ($13.3 billion) to the sector's share of the Kingdom's gross domestic product and provide 39,000 additional job opportunities.
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Riyadh to Host The Esports World Cup Annually, Starting in 2024
The Esports World Cup Foundation, a nonprofit entity created to foster greater cooperation among esports stakeholders, was also introduced by the crown prince. According to a press release, these developments were revealed at "The New Global Sports Conference" in the Saudi capital. "The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry," the crown prince stated.
The competition, he continued, "will accelerate our progress toward achieving the Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying the economy, expanding the tourism sector, creating new jobs across a range of industries, and offering top-notch entertainment to both citizens and visitors alike." The growth of the esports industry is essential for Saudi Arabia, which is progressively diversifying its economy to meet the objectives set forth in Vision 2030.
The yearly esports competition is also anticipated to boost tourism to the Kingdom. The Esports World Cup boasts the biggest prize pools ever provided in esports history and will include a number of well-known titles from different genres. Additionally, the event will be enhanced with a varied selection of activities and events for attendees. By promoting tourism, creating jobs, and offering entertainment to locals and tourists, the competition will assist in fulfilling the goals of Vision 2030.