In a spectacular showcase of talent and ambition, the Sheraa Hub at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently hosted the final battle of the Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports Masters MENA Series – the region’s most prestigious university e-gaming tournament.
Sheraa Hub: The Epicenter of MENA’s University Esports Masters
As a driving force behind Sharjah’s ambition to promote the tech creative industries in the UAE and the MENA region, Sheraa supported this event to propel the nation’s knowledge economy forward with critical thinkers and innovators. The vision of Sheraa aligns with the goal of promoting critical thinking and experiential learning.
The MENA series witnessed fierce competition among 3,500 students from more than 90 universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Egypt, forming a total of 300 teams. This second edition of the tournament, open to the public for the first time, was globally live-streamed in both Arabic and English. The champions hailed from Saudi Arabia, showcasing their gaming prowess and cementing their victory over their rivals.
During the final play-offs, teams from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Egypt went head-to-head, battling it out in two popular games – VALORANT and League of Legends. The Nasr Academy from Saudi Arabia emerged victorious in VALORANT, while the team WinnersQ, also from Saudi Arabia, dominated in League of Legends.
The atmosphere at Sheraa Hub was electric, with experiential spaces set up by the event’s sponsors, HP Victus, Shahid, and STC play, for the gaming fans in attendance. Esteemed personalities from the gaming industry and the entertainment ecosystem graced the event, engaging and inspiring the young participants.
Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sheraa, praised the competition, stating, “This competition goes beyond simple gaming. It integrates recreation and competition within the context of education, innovation, and critical thinking. At Sheraa, we strive to nurture excellence in young individuals by providing them with training platforms that align with their aspirations. This prestigious regional challenge allows them to unleash their competitive and creative spirits.”
Gaming has transformed into a platform for problem-solving, collaboration, innovation, and creativity. In a world driven by technology, healthy competition among talented individuals fosters incredible solutions for real-world challenges. With the online gaming industry projected to reach a worth of $321 billion by 2026, Sheraa aims to position talent from the region as major drivers of this growth. Sheraa is proud to partner with MENATech and co-host this competition, while also fueling the UAE’s and the Arab region’s creative economy through the community-driven spaces of the Sheraa Hub,” Al Midfa added.
Mario Pérez, CEO of MENATech, also emphasized the significance of Sheraa hosting this event. He stated, “This event provided university students with a unique opportunity to convene, compete, acquire knowledge, relish the experience, and exhibit their aptitude before a discerning audience while engaging with enthusiastic fans. Our collective dedication to fostering the educational landscape, providing training opportunities, and nurturing capabilities and skill development of aspiring students is truly embodied in this undertaking.”