Mashallah - New Regional Esports HQ and Venue Opens in Riyadh
Assalamu alaikum - big news for gamers here. ESL FACEIT Group has opened a new regional headquarters and a flagship esports venue in Riyadh - a studio of over 1,000 square meters that can host more than 500 people. They’re calling it one of the top event spaces of its kind in the city and say it will help Riyadh grow as a global esports center.
The space is meant to be a hub for local gaming communities and fans, hosting local tournaments like the ESL Saudi Challenge as well as international competitions. With more than 300 square meters of LED screens, it’s set up for broadcasters and can be used for brand events, marketing and media activities.
The CEO, Niccolo Maisto, said they want to support the Kingdom’s vision and tap into the young population to drive growth. He added that opening the regional HQ gives them a new stage for big competitions and helps build local infrastructure and content. They said they believe Riyadh is becoming a global esports capital, and they’re proud to help.
EFG expects the facility to create career paths and jobs for Saudis in areas like broadcast production, content creation, community and event management. That lines up with Saudi Arabia’s National Games and Esports Strategy, which aims to create many jobs and boost the economy by 2030.
Mohammed Alasiri, EFG’s HR director, said walking into the new Riyadh studio felt like a new chapter and a chance for Saudi talent to shape the future of esports. He described the studio as more than a building - a place for local ambition, global standards and community growth.
EFG was involved as an operating partner for the recent Esports World Cup in Riyadh, a large eight-week gaming festival. The company has been running tournaments, anticheat systems, live events and esports festivals for over 20 years, reaching millions of fans.
Popular competitive games they work with include Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends and Call of Duty. As Maisto put it, they’ve been part of the scene for a long time, are increasing investment now, and want to help build esports’ future in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, it seems like a promising step for local gamers and the wider esports community here - may it bring beneficial opportunities, inshaAllah.
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