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In a bold move to reshape the global esports landscape, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ concluded the second Esports World Cup last week at Boulevard City in Riyadh, under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The tournament built on the success of last year’s inaugural event, highlighting the Kingdom’s rapid rise as a dominant force in global esports.

This year’s edition drew massive participation, with 2,000 professional players from 200 clubs across 100 countries.

Key metrics showed remarkable growth over last year: Ticket sales rose 53 percent, content demand 40 percent and international sales 64 percent.

The event was broadcast in more than 35 languages across more than 100 countries, highlighting º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s growing prominence in hosting world-class events.

Over 50 days, Boulevard City welcomed more than 3 million visitors, while 750 million viewers worldwide watched online, with cumulative viewing exceeding 350 million hours.

The tournament featured more than 1,500 community, cultural and entertainment events, adding a rich interactive dimension and transforming it into a platform blending sports, culture and entertainment.

The total prize pool exceeded $70 million — the largest in the event’s history — underscoring its growing prestige and global significance.

By developing its esports sector, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ seeks to boost the digital economy and showcase its cultural identity through locally produced content, bringing Saudi heritage to a global audience

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman crowned Team Falcons champions after they topped the standings with 5,200 points, earning the $7 million grand prize.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s hosting of the global esports tournament for the second consecutive year reflects its significant progress toward becoming a global leader in the rapidly growing sector, amid rising global demand for such entertainment.

The Kingdom’s commitment was reinforced by the launch of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy in 2022 by the crown prince, aiming to establish º£½ÇÖ±²¥ as a global hub for gaming and esports.

As part of this vision, the Saudi Esports Federation was created, and Boulevard City now hosts the world’s largest dedicated gaming and esports zone.

The Public Investment Fund also launched Savvy Games Group to position itself as a leading games and esports company, locally and internationally.

These initiatives mark a major milestone in expanding º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s gaming ecosystem, aligning with Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy beyond oil.

The sector is projected to create 35,000 jobs and add $13 billion to gross domestic product, further cementing the Kingdom’s role as a global esports hub.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is implementing 86 initiatives across the gaming value chain, led by more than 20 government and private entities.

The Kingdom aims to produce more than 30 globally competitive games in local studios and become one of the top three countries in professional esports players.

By developing its esports sector, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ seeks to boost the digital economy and showcase its cultural identity through locally produced content, bringing Saudi heritage to a global audience.

Leveraging its resources, youthful population and strategic investments, the Kingdom is poised to become a global leader in gaming and esports, driving sustainable growth and fostering creative excellence.

The esports sector is expected to enhance quality of life in the Kingdom by enriching player experiences, expanding entertainment opportunities and building a strong foundation for national talent development.

It also aims to inspire the next generation of players, developers, content creators and investors — both locally and globally.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s focus on esports supports its broader strategy to attract foreign investment and strengthen global engagement.

Expanding the sector aligns with Vision 2030 goals, including raising foreign direct investment to 5.7 percent of non-oil GDP by 2030.

It will also attract foreign tourists, contributing to the Kingdom’s target of welcoming 150 million visitors by 2030.

Through its National Gaming and Esports Strategy, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is unlocking the potential of one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, solidifying its position as a key global player in gaming and esports.

• Talat Zaki Hafiz is an economist and financial analyst. X: @TalatHafiz