Riyadh witnesses the launch of the Afro-Arab Esports League, an exciting initiative uniting 25 member nations from both the African and Arab regions. With a focus on elevating esports competition and fostering cultural harmony, the league marks a significant step towards uniting people across borders and backgrounds through the world of gaming.
Uniting Nations Through Gaming: The Afro-Arab Esports League, headquartered in Riyadh, aims to revolutionize the competitive esports landscape among its member countries. By embracing the energetic spirit of esports and harnessing the connective power of gaming, the league aspires to transcend cultural boundaries and create a shared space for engagement.
Initial Tournaments at Gamers8: The inaugural tournaments of the Afro-Arab Esports League kicked off in Riyadh at the prestigious Gamers8: The Land of Heroes, a globally recognized gaming and esports festival. Within the festival’s Boulevard Riyadh City, the Challenge Zone hosted exhilarating eFootball and Valorant tournaments, featuring separate competitions for male and female participants.
The Participating Nations: This groundbreaking league unites 25 nations, symbolizing the fusion of African and Arab cultures. The member countries include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, UAE, Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, Bahrain, Oman, Cameroon, Mali, Somalia, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, South Africa, Namibia, and Nigeria.
Leadership Perspective: Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation and the Arab Esports Federation, expressed the significance of the Afro-Arab Esports League in promoting cultural exchange and collaboration. Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the developmental opportunities stemming from uniting African and Arab youth through competitions.
Festival Highlights: The Afro-Arab Esports League is part of the eight-week-long Gamers8: The Land of Heroes festival, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation. The festival boasts a staggering $45 million prize pool, triple the size of the previous year’s event. With 16 elite esports tournaments from 13 top titles, live concerts, educational platforms, and family-friendly activities, Gamers8 provides an all-encompassing gaming and entertainment experience.
Embracing the Future Together: The festival culminates in the Next World Forum, a two-day gaming and esports forum held at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre on August 30-31. This forum brings together global leaders and experts in the gaming sector to discuss the future of esports on a global scale.