Amazon University Esports Registers Tremendous Growth In KSA With 2,194 Student Participants

The Middle East arm of GGTech Entertainment, MENATech Entertainment, has recently reported a significant surge in participation in the Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports (AUE) tournaments. This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) alone saw over 100 teams registering, with a total of 2,194 students getting involved. This marks an impressive increase of almost 57% from the previous season, indicating a growing interest and participation in esports within the region.

Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports, a global initiative active in 26 countries, aims to cater to the burgeoning esports industry's diverse needs by organising competitions for university students. This platform is not merely about gaming; it also promotes community building and friendships through both online and offline events. Importantly, it offers students early professional experiences in various fields such as programming, design, marketing, and law, meeting the industry's demand for a broad spectrum of professionals.

In a move towards expanding participation, AUE has welcomed over ten new universities from the KSA this season, showcasing a commitment to inclusivity and enlarging the talent pool within the esports community. Globally, AUE has made an impact on over 100,000 students across 26 countries and 2,600 universities, with GGTech's involvement enhancing this reach substantially, boasting over 600,000 registered participants across different competitions.

The platform encourages collaboration and fosters community among students through a variety of games like FIFA, VALORANT, and PUBG Mobile. This initiative has also garnered strategic support from companies such as Shahid and Deliveroo in the past year, further highlighting its significance in enhancing academic and social connections.

Esports in the KSA

The KSA is fast becoming an emerging hub for esports, hosting 85% of the gaming enthusiasts in the MENA region. With significant developments like the Esports World Cup set for the summer of 2024 and the construction of the 'Qiddiya City Esports Arena', the first stadium designed for immersive gaming and sports experiences, the country is poised to become the global epicentre of esports. The esports market in the KSA, which was valued at $1 billion in 2021, is expected to skyrocket to $6.8 billion by 2030. Additionally, with the rollout of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, the KSA aims to boost its GDP by about 50 billion riyals and create 39,000 new job opportunities by 2030.

Mario Perez, CEO of MENA Tech Entertainment, expressed optimism about the future of the esports industry, which is projected to reach $1.6 billion in turnover by 2024, alongside a 24.7% increase in worldwide spectatorship. "As we reflect on this year's tournaments' successes, we're eager to deepen our collaboration with universities and their students in the KSA. The enthusiastic response from both teams and individual participants underscores the increasing influence of AUE within the educational domain, forecasting a promising future," Perez stated.

Looking ahead, the goal is to sustain this growth momentum and extend GGTech's reach to an increasing number of students through its competitions, training, and educational components. This year will also see the return of the AUE Masters, an in-person event allowing students from the region to showcase their gaming skills and passion. It will also serve as a platform for them to interact and forge connections with fellow gamers, further elevating the region's status as a gaming hub.

Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports continues to thrive with the backing of top-level publishers and brands such as Riot Games and Shahid, ensuring its position as a pivotal platform for fostering the next generation of esports talent.