Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City and Esports Foundation
expand partnership for Esports World Cup 2026
Qiddiya City
and the Esports
Foundation (EF) have expanded their long-term partnership for the Esports
World Cup 2026 (EWC), marking a significant milestone as the tournament is
staged outside Saudi Arabia for the first time.
The 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup will run from
July 6 to August 23 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, bringing together more
than 2,000 players and 200 esports clubs representing over 100 countries.
Although this year's tournament is being held in Paris, Riyadh will remain the
permanent home of the global competition.
As a founding partner of the Esports World Cup, Qiddiya
City will serve as the naming rights partner for one of the event's four
competition stages. The Qiddiya City
Grid, with seating for more than 1,000 spectators, will host
tournaments featuring major esports titles, including Apex Legends, Free
Fire, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG
MOBILE, and Fortnite.
The partnership also supports Qiddiya City's latest
global branding campaign, highlighting its ambition to become the future home
of the Esports World Cup and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's growing role in the
international gaming and esports industry.
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"Saudi Arabia is the home of the Esports World Cup
and has established the event as a global platform for esports and gaming
culture," said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer of the Esports
Foundation.
"As we bring EWC to Paris for its first
international edition, Qiddiya City's presence offers fans a glimpse of the
competition's long-term future. It reflects a shared ambition to create a
unifying destination for players, clubs, publishers, partners, and fans, and we
look forward to sharing that vision with the global esports community this
summer," he added.
Muhammad Bassrawi, Chief Marketing and Destination
Officer at Qiddiya Investment Company, said the partnership reflects the city's
long-term vision of becoming a global hub for gaming and entertainment.
"Qiddiya City is proud to be part of EWC 2026, a
global platform that brings together the gaming and esports community through
competition, entertainment, and shared experiences," Bassrawi said.
"As the world's first city Powered by Play, Qiddiya
City is building toward becoming the undisputed global epicenter for gaming and
esports fans. Our partnership with EWC reflects our commitment to shaping the
future of play and creating world-class experiences for players, fans, and the
global gaming community."
Qiddiya City's planned esports district will span more
than 183,000 square metres and feature four purpose-built arenas with a
combined seating capacity of 73,000. The district will also accommodate up to
25 esports clubs and serve as a regional base for more than 30 gaming
companies.
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The expanded collaboration follows the success of EWC
2025, during which Qiddiya attractions welcomed more than 258,000 visitors.
Located approximately 45 kilometres from Riyadh, Qiddiya City is being
developed as a premier destination for entertainment, sports, and culture, with
esports forming a central pillar of its long-term development strategy.
Source:
Trade Arabia
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