Middle East on Track to Become an eSports Powerhouse
Elen StelmakhIt is no secret that the Middle East has an insatiable appetite for sports - a point evidenced by the Saudi Pro League’s lavish spending in last summer's transfer window.
Turning the competition into one of the world's most attractive competitions could be attributed to Saudi Arabia's bid to raise the nation's awareness ahead of the 2034 World Cup.
The Saudis have followed in the footsteps of Qatar, which staged the tournament in 2022, acquiring the hosting rights for the football's most prestigious event.
However, it is just the tip of the iceberg. The region regularly hosts numerous high-profile events, including two Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi and several tennis tournaments.
But what about eSports? There is a feeling that his ever-growing sector offers the Middle East an opportunity to become the number one gaming hub in the world.
eSports on a Mission to Overshadow Traditional Sports
eSports is among the world's fastest-developing technology and entertainment industries. Alongside the gambling sector, gaming has grown at an unprecedented rate in recent years.
The global eSports market reached an eye-watering worth of $1.6 billion in 2023, a significant improvement on $776 million in 2018.
Although North America and the Far East, particularly China, remain the most advanced markets, the Middle East has found its place in the eSports boom.
Arabic language streams gained substantial traction in the United Arab Emirates as 4.4m users watched Arabic language streams on Twitch in 2020.
However, the Middle East's interest in gaming dates back to 2015, when Dubai hosted the ESL Pro League invitational competition, a mainstream tournament with a $250,000 prize pool.
Four years later, the city staged Insomnia UAE and KSA, the region's largest gaming festival. The event attracted over 50,000 visitors, assuming a meaningful role in promoting eSports in the region.
Events of that magnitude fuelled the Middle East's interest in gaming and, in turn, produced some of the world's most famous gamers. As you can imagine, the betting industry has refused to let the region's seduction by eSports slip their radar.
Aware of its potential, the sector's leaders have adjusted their offerings, often making eSports one of the most enticing avenues for betting enthusiasts.
The mass emergence of eSports betting sites has quickly followed up, offering an attractive alternative to traditional sports betting.
The Most Popular Arab Pro Gamers
Getting paid to play your favourite video games is the stuff of dreams. Such a chance often comes once in a lifetime, and only those brave and skilled enough have been able to capitalise on it.
Gaming is one of the most popular pastimes worldwide. It starts as a hobby for many people before developing into a lucrative income stream.
'Streamers' are a new category of people who make money from broadcasting all manner of content on the internet.
But in a highly competitive gaming industry, it takes a very particular skillset and sophisticated sense for often complex gameplays to stand out. And the Middle East boasts several top-class gamers.
Sayed 'Tekken Master' Hashem
Born and raised in Bahrain, Sayed Hashem is a Tekken and Mortal Kombat professional gamer who has changed the face of eSports in the Middle East.
If you are an established fan of the fighting game community (FGC), you will be familiar with the nickname 'Tekken Master.'
As a multiple title holder and three-time EVO finalist, Hashem is one of the gaming industry's pioneers in the Gulf region.
His illustrious gaming career has inspired numerous gamers worldwide to enter the competitive world of Tekken while making him one of the Arab's most celebrated gamers.
Ahmed 'AAMEGHESSIB' Al Meghessib
If you are more into football, Ahmed 'AAMEGHESSIB' Al Meghessib must have landed on your radar.
Widely considered one of the best EA Sports FC players in the Middle East, his popularity has skyrocketed after his association with the Paris Saint-Germain eSports team.
A member of the Qatari National Team, Al Meghessib has carved out a prominent eSports career, culminating with his sponsorship deal with Red Bull.
He broke onto the big scene in 2017 and has since turned into one of the Gulf region's most popular professional gamers.
Aldossary 'MSdossary7' Mossad
Aldossary 'MSdossary7' Mossad, has turned his enthusiasm for EA Sports FC into a source of substantial wealth.
During his prolific eSports career, he has earned around $720,000 in prize money, making him the highest-paid Saudi Arabian eSports 'athlete.'
Currently playing for Team Falcons, the 23-year-old has been an omnipresent figure on the FIFA scene since a breakout Ultimate Team Championship Series in 2017.
Msdossary gained considerable attention after winning the FIFA eWorld Cup in 2018 and 2019, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the competitive gaming scene.
Elen Stelmakh is a creative individual dedicated to advancing gaming culture through articles and visual design. As a full-time EGamersWorld author and designer for a gaming website, Elen not only creates content but also infuses it with energy and creativity.