RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has officially launched a new era in esports with the opening of the SEF Arena, a cutting-edge facility by the Saudi Esports Federation located in Boulevard World, Riyadh.
Spanning 25,000 sq. meters, the arena includes professional-grade esports venues, event halls, the SEF Academy, SEF Studio, and collaborative spaces designed to support players from grassroots to global competition.
SEF CEO Turki Al-Fawzan described the arena as the “beating heart” of a growing ecosystem, aligning with Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s digital ambitions.
He envisions Saudi as the "Land of Champions", nurturing local talent from school leagues to the international stage through structured programs and elite training.
The arena also hosts the Saudi eLeagues, featuring 2,800+ players competing year-round in leagues like the Saudi Women League and Fighting League.
To further strengthen the ecosystem, SEF signed MoUs with major esports entities like Team Falcons, Twisted Minds, and Savvy Games Group to foster talent, innovation, and industry partnerships.
With broadcasting studios, advanced infrastructure, and immersive fan experiences, SEF Arena sets a global benchmark for esports. The launch comes ahead of the second Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
Leaders like Musaad Aldossary and Rawan Albutairi highlighted the role of elite facilities in player development and women’s growing representation in gaming nearly 49% of youth gamers.
The arena aims to turn that into elite participation, offering roles across gameplay, commentary, moderation, and more.
“This is our legacy,” said Al-Fawzan, “our promise to the next generation of champions.”
[Reported by Arab News]
