Saudi eLeague — putting MENA esports on the global map, one event at a time
Over the years, esports series conducted by third-party organizers have become a huge part of the annual calendar. Not only do these events play a part in the overall conduct of the competitive seasons of various games but they also provide a chance for teams to play more matches and work on their strategies in between the bigger, more prominent tournaments.
Recently, one such series conducted by the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) has been leading the way in providing sides from its region a platform to showcase their talents. Large prize pools and a structured route for upcoming players to one day potentially join big-ticket esports organizations have made the Saudi eLeague a much-anticipated annual spectacle.
Established in 2020 by the SEF, Saudi eLeague tournaments form the core of esports in Saudi Arabia. Its main goal is to act as a bridge between the country's clubs/players and the world, with the ultimate aim being to help these parties represent the Kingdom in local and international forums.
So far, events have been held in these games:
- Rocket League
- PUBG Mobile
- Overwatch 2
- Valorant
- Rainbow Six Siege
- League of Legends
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Call of Duty: Mobile
- EA Sports FC
- eFootball
Over the past four years, the Saudi eLeague has significantly impacted the development of the local esports scene in the Middle East. One of the biggest positives has been increased recognition, as the series has brought more visibility to the esports scene in the region, both locally and internationally, by hosting high-profile competitions.
These events have totaled more than $4 million in prize money, offering players something in monetary value that very few other similar series can provide. These young, upcoming talents can also test their skills against the best in their field, allowing them to develop with every game and learn what it is like to compete at the highest levels of esports.
Who knows, a few good displays could help them gain recognition, attract sponsorships, and potentially launch professional careers.
This exposure has also helped make esports a legitimate and competitive field within the Middle East. In fact, a lot of teams from the region, including the more renowned organizations like Twisted Minds and Team Falcons, have gone on to secure some major international honors for the region.
The increasing activity in competitive video gaming has also meant that more and more top content creators from the region are jumping on the bandwagon. The likes of sxb (SHoNgxBoNg), perhaps Saudi Arabia's most famous streamer today, have invested in esports, with his esports organization, POWR eSport, emerging as one of the more promising names from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
We have also witnessed 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup winner Mossad "Msdossary" Al-Dossary co-founding Team Falcons in 2017. It has today emerged as perhaps the eminent name in the MENA and Saudi competitive gaming and livestreaming scenes, living up to Msdossary's claims of wanting to develop "an esports world for gamers in MENA."
So much activity has also meant the Saudi eLeague has contributed to the evolution of esports infrastructure in the region, such as dedicated gaming arenas and training facilities. This improvement further supports the growth of the esports ecosystem, creating new job opportunities for roles such as coaches, analysts, casters, and event organizers. It has also attracted investment and tourism to the region.
The series' success has also helped birth an award show that recognizes and fetes the best from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The SEF Awards is an annual event that honors organizations, individuals, influencers, and achievers in esports and content creation. Its fifth edition will be held on January 31, 2025, with voting having closed as recently as January 15, 2025.
Talking numbers a little more, in 2024, the Saudi eLeague racked up 574,475 Hours Watched (HW) and a high of about 11,197 Peak Viewers over 1.49K hours of airtime. These numbers may not seem all that impressive when looking at the overall esports series, or even a cut-off of circuits that have offered $4 million or less in overall prize money, but their benefits to the MENA region, in the long run, cannot be understated.
Crucially, such numbers have aided in bringing in a lot of investment, including from companies outside the scope of gaming or content creation. Names like Savvy Gaming Group, Mastercard, and STC have hedged their bets on the Saudi eLeague and its potential. There is also the media attention that comes with attracting creators of the caliber of sxb.
Moreover, the kind of comfortable domestic ecosystem the Saudi eLeague has created, where even new players can learn and shine thanks to the relatively low competition, is something not every country — or even region — can boast of. The low audience reach is also not a cause for worry, as there are bigger and more glamorous circuits like the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia that attract solid viewership numbers and host some of the industry's biggest events.
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