01 January 2024

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), a Saudi group backed by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, has announced the launch of the Gaming and Esports District within its giga Qiddiya development.

The first multi-use gaming and esports district in the world will cover more than 500,000 sq m, including 100,000 sq m dedicated to retail, dining and entertainment. Once completed, it will become the place for gamers to live, work and play, with gaming-themed apartments and hotels, said QIC.

A one-of-a-kind destination located on the outskirts of Riyadh, Qiddiya features 60,000 buildings over an overall area of 360 sq km. On completion, it will be home to over 600,000 residents.

The new Gaming and Esports District is expected to include four arenas designed to the highest standards to host the most prominent global events in the gaming sector throughout the year, with the capacity of the stadium reaching 73,000 seats.

One of the venues will have 5,300 seats, making it one of the three largest esports stadiums in the world. It will also have the largest indoor LED screen among all esports areas around the world, it stated.

The district will also host up to 25 esports clubs from around the world to live, train and compete. The district will welcome leaders of the gaming and esports sector, and will provide regional headquarters to more than 30 leading video games development companies.

The new gaming district will support the National Strategy for Gaming and Esports, which aims to make Saudi Arabia a global centre for gaming and esports by 2030.

Meanwhile, HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of QIC, has launched the urban design for Qiddiya City.

Located 40 minutes from Riyadh centre and overlooking the stunning cliffs of the formidable Tuwaiq mountains, Qiddiya City will include a speed park track, golf courses, a massive water theme park, and Six Flags Qiddiya, apart from the newly announced Gaming & Esports District.

Unveiling the design, Prince Mohammad bin Salman said the city of Qiddiya will become, in the near future, the foremost global destination in the fields of entertainment, sports, and culture.

In addition, the city will also host a stadium which will feature the world’s largest Olympic museum, he stated.

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