- Saudi Arabia Prepares to Host Esports World Cup from July 4, 2024, in Riyadh City
- Some 2,500 players are expected to compete for a $60 million prize pool
- To promote esports in Kingdom, two venture capital funds with a combined value of $120 million have been established
- Saudi Arabia has launched e-visas for Esports World Cup attendees
By: Muhammad Arif
Riyadh: The Kingdom prepares to host Esports World Cup that will start from July 4 to Aug. 25, at Riyadh Boulevard City of Saudi Arabia, offering 90-day e-visas to Esports World Cup ticket holders for the participants of competition that aims to put the kingdom on the international gaming arena.
More than 2,500 players are expected to compete for a $60 million prize pool, the largest in Esports history.
This global esports contest is a collaborative effort between the Esports World Cup Convention and the Saudi Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has earmarked $38 billion from the Public Investment Fund – with the aim of attracting 250 gaming companies and studios to set up shop in the country while creating 39,000 video game-related jobs.
The homegrown strategy builds on the kingdom’s credentials in the e-arena with investments in the biggest players like Tencent, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft.
To promote esports in Saudi Arabia, the National Development Fund and the Social Development Bank announced the establishment of two venture capital funds with a combined value of $120 million to back new esports companies in the kingdom.
Organizers has stated that visitors to the Esports World Cup will also have the opportunity to enjoy a blend of sports, entertainment, educational, and cultural activities suitable for all family members at Riyadh Boulevard City.
Interested individuals can visit the Esports World Cup website for more information about the tournament and to attend its events. They can also apply for a visa through the “Saudi Visa” national visa platform to obtain a 90-day single-entry visa online at ksavisa.sa.
