Image: Media City Qatar
Qatar is set to host an esports forum amid a massive regional push into esports.
Media and technology hub Media City Qatar is partnering with esports company SNRG for the Media City Qatar Esports Forum, which is set to take place on May 19, 2024, in Doha, Qatar. The inaugural event aims to provide industry leaders and enthusiasts a platform to connect over panel discussions, workshops, networking sessions and keynote speeches.
Media City Qatar Esports Forum kicks off this month
The Media City Qatar Esports Forum is a one-day event happening on May 19, 2024, in Doha, Qatar. Media City Qatar and SNRG are collaborating for the event, which is said to serve as a platform for thought leaders in the esports industry to meet and discuss the ever-evolving world of esports. As Qatar looks to make headway in the esports industry, the event is also intended to be a showcase for the country’s potential in competitive gaming.
Media City Qatar’s director of business development Thair Al Anani spoke about the event, saying:
We are delighted to partner with SNRG for this new forum and help drive Qatar’s esports evolution. This is a key sector in the new media world and we are determined to support Qatar and the MENA region in their efforts to be at its leading edge.
CEO and co-founder of SNRG Ibrahim Samha added:
SNRG is proud to collaborate with Media City Qatar to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and shape the future of esports in Qatar and beyond. The forum will aim to unlock opportunities and enlighten its attendees about Qatar and its potential in esports.
Media City Qatar is referred to in a news release as a “collaborative global hub,” and a leader in Qatar’s media industry, playing host to various media companies and talent in the region. SNRG on the other hand, is an esports company looking to put Qatar on the map where competitive gaming is concerned. Visit Qatar and Qatar Esports Federation are also supporting the event.
The MENA region continues its expansion into esports
Qatar is becoming a rather prominent player in the esports scene, with multiple competitions and events being planned locally as the Qatar Esports Federation looks to build up local talent. For example, a Dota 2 league was announced to launch this year with three events and a prize pool of $2.6 million spread across the league.
Similar efforts are being made to prop up the esports industry in the larger MENA (Middle East and North African) region. Dubai is set to introduce a Gaming Visa to entice content creators and other talent into the city, providing employment and training opportunities while collaborating with international organisations. The initiative is planned as part of Dubai’s Program for Gaming 2033 with the aim of creating 30,000 jobs - proof that the city is taking its growth in the games industry seriously.
Elsewhere, the Esports World Cup is set to kick off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a record-breaking prize pool of over $60 million. The MENA region is making aggressive moves to cement itself as an esports epicentre, and thus far seems to be on track to achieve that goal.
