eGaming has taken the Middle East by storm, leading to Saudi Arabia’s construction of the impressive $34.11 billion gaming district in Qiddiya, consisting of 60,000 buildings. This project is poised to boost eSports popularity, which already enjoys a substantial regional following. With an estimated 377 million gamers in the Middle East, including many who compete professionally, the gaming community is thriving in the region. The gaming industry develops every day eSports projects, nft games show us that you can choose your gaming community starting from your interests. In this post, we’ll explore the eSports that have garnered notable popularity in the Middle East, starting with the Middle East’s favorite game, FIFA.
FIFA Reigns Supreme in the Middle East
Despite FIFA’s beloved video game franchise concluding in 2022, it remains a global esports favorite, especially in the Middle East. Football, already immensely popular in the region, soared to new heights following the FIFA World Cup 2022 held in Qatar.
Soccer has also become the main sport for sports betting in the Middle East. The Saudi Professional League (SPL) has invested heavily in turning this league into an elite competition. Al Nassr, for example, signed Cristiano Ronaldo, while Al Hilal signed Neymar, which is paying off for the punters. The popularity of betting on soccer has grown to such an extent that resources like the Middle East online football betting guide are readily available for those interested in placing a wager on their favorite teams. These developments ignited a genuine soccer frenzy and interest in simulation games like FIFA.
The passion for FIFA further intensified with local eSports players making their mark. Saudi Arabia’s Ahmad “AboMakkah” Mujahid leads as the highest-earning FIFA esports player in the Middle East, followed closely by talents like Mossad “MSdossary7″ Aldossary. While major tournament victories elude them, their youth suggests ample time for future success.
Middle East-based FIFA esports teams, such as PSG Quest, in partnership with Paris Saint-Germain, add to the excitement. Even globally, teams like 01 Esports excel in FIFA despite their primary focus on Overwatch.”
Middle Eastern Gamers Excelling in Overwatch
Since its 2016 release by Blizzard, Overwatch has become a popular first-person shooter in the Middle East, with gamers in the region showcasing impressive skills. Saudi Arabia’s recent victory in the Overwatch World Cup (OWWC) is a notable example. They outperformed strong competitors like China, Finland, and South Korea, earning the Saudi team over $125,000 in prize money. This accomplishment firmly establishes them as one of the most successful esports teams in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The Saudi team achieved this without losing a single match throughout the tournament, highlighting their dominance in Overwatch esports.
Promising Prospects for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the sixteenth installment in the Call of Duty series and one of the most popular first-person shooters in the world today. With its incredible life-like graphics, this game has won over the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide, the Middle East included.
This region regularly organizes local tournaments, including the Call of Duty: Vanguard PlayStation Open Series and the Middle East Call of Duty World League.
While local players have shown promise in Call of Duty tournaments, they have yet to make their mark on the global stage. Currently, the competitive scene remains dominated by players from European countries, with notable figures like Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen and Andreas “Xyp9x” Hojsleth hailing from Denmark.
Middle Eastern Players Persevere in CS:GO
Middle Eastern eSports players have faced significant challenges establishing a foothold in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO. The competition in this discipline is fierce, with more than 16,000 players competing professionally.
However, this has yet to deter MENA players; quite the opposite. The number of eSports enthusiasts from the Middle East is steadily increasing, and it’s reasonable to anticipate that they will achieve noteworthy victories in the coming years. This holds especially true for players from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where government-backed investments in esports pave the way for promising developments in this competitive field.
Dota 2 Is Where the Money Lies
Dota 2 is arguably the most lucrative eSports discipline in the world today. Tournaments often have prize pools measured in tens of millions of dollars. With so much cash involved, it’s no surprise that the competition is fierce, with thousands of players competing for their share.
Right now, 92 Dota 2 millionaires made their fortune playing this game.
Among those are a couple of players from the Middle East, most notably Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi from Jordan with a career earning of just under $5M, and Saudi Arabia’s Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan, who’s made more than $4M playing this game.
Final Thoughts
Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps in investing in eSports, and other Middle Eastern countries are following suit. This indicates a clear trend for eSports to grow in the region in the coming years. With an expected increase in the number of local Middle Eastern players and the possibility of elite eSports athletes from other regions relocating here, the Middle East has the potential to become a major hub for eSports by the end of the decade.
