Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports marks significant growth in KSA with 2,194 students participating in 2024

News Desk

DUBAI: MENATech Entertainment, the Middle East arm of the international gaming company GGTech Entertainment, has announced a remarkable growth in Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports (AUE) tournaments with over 100 teams registering in the KSA and a total of 2,194 students participating, almost a 57% growth from the last season.

Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is a global initiative operating in 26 countries, designed to integrate the diverse needs of the expanding esports industry by hosting competitions for university students. This platform not only fosters community and friendship through online and in-person events but also serves as a gateway for students to gain early professional experiences in various fields such as programming, design, marketing, and law, thus aligning with the industry’s demand for a wide range of professionals. Mario Pérez, CEO of MENATech Entertainment

In its commitment to expanding participation, AUE welcomed over 10 new universities from the KSA, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and broadening the talent pool within the esports community. This initiative is a global effort, with AUE impacting over 100,000 students across 26 countries and 2,600 universities. GGTech’s engagement further amplifies this reach, boasting over 600,000 registered participants across various competitions.

AUE stands out by encouraging collaboration and fostering community among students through diverse games like FIFA, VALORANT, and PUBG Mobile, highlighting the platform’s role in enhancing academic and social connections. Last year, the competition solidified strategic support with companies like Shahid and Deliveroo.

Hosting 85% of the gaming enthusiasts in the MENA region, AUE has placed an early bet on the KSA as an up-and-coming esports hub. The country is gearing up to solidify its position as the global epicentre of esports by hosting the Esports World Cup in the summer of 2024, and the construction of the megaproject ‘Qiddiya City Esports Arena’, the first stadium created for the immersive gaming and sports experience. The esports market in KSA, valued at $1 billion in 2021, is on a trajectory to explode to $6.8 billion by 2030. Furthermore, with the rollout of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, 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, highlights, “With the esports industry projected to reach $1.6 billion in turnover by 2024 and an expected 24.7% increase in worldwide spectatorship, the booming sector mirrors the growth within Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports. As we reflect on the triumphs of this year’s tournaments, we’re eager to deepen our collaboration with universities and their students in the KSA. The enthusiastic response by both the teams and individual participants reaffirms the increasing influence of AUE within the educational domain, showing a promising future.”

In KSA and the surrounding region, the goal remains to sustain growth and extend the reach of GGTech’s endeavours to an increasing number of students for its competitions, training and educational components. Moreover, this year will witness the return of the AUE Masters, an in-person event where students from the region can exhibit their gaming skills and passion, and interact and make connections with fellow gamers, elevating the region’s status as a gaming hub.

Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is made possible thanks to the support of top-level publishers and brands such as Riot Games and Shahid.