Emirates Esports Association to set up base at Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi

UAE’s governing body for esports will establish its headquarters at the Gaming Hub within twofour54’s new media and entertainment campus, Yas Creative Hub when it opens later this year in Abu Dhabi.

The Emirates Esports Association says it will work with twofour54 to expand its reach, improve the standardisation of industry regulations as well as bring more tournaments and esports conferences to Abu Dhabi.

The move builds on Abu Dhabi’s growing status as a regional gaming and esports hub.

In September 2020, twofour54 announced it is teaming up with Unity Technologies to develop a gaming ‘centre of excellence’ where local start-ups and students can learn related skills.

Also, in November of 2020, twofour54 and Media Zone Authority (MZA) launched a range of 57 new license categories for game developers and publishers, esports companies, and virtual and augmented reality providers to allow a range of gaming and esports companies to set up their business at twofour54, Abu Dhabi’s media and entertainment hub.

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Twofour54 has also hosted various gaming esports and gaming events including “Ramadan Derby 2020” gaming tournament for FIFA gamers across the UAE, held in partnership with the UAE Pro League.

“The gaming and esports markets in the MENA region are growing faster than anywhere else in the world,” said James Hartt, director, Strategy and Business Development, twofour54. “As the regional gaming hub, Abu Dhabi is an ideal location for gaming businesses, and this creates an abundance of employment opportunities for skilled gaming industry talent,” he added.

The Emirates Esports Association pioneered the inaugural esports Tolerance Games alongside the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the International Esports Federation, as part of the Global Festival of Tolerance in 2020. The event was the first official government-supported esports initiative in the UAE, created to support the conversation around tolerance and coexistence through sport.

“Emirates Esports is delighted to partner with twofour54 to support Abu Dhabi vision to be a leader in esports and gaming. Great strides have already been made in establishing a world-class esports scene in the emirate and we look forward to collaborating with twofour54 to continue this growth,” said Saeed Al Taher, secretary-general, Emirates Esports Association.

Yas Creative Hub will be the new home for the international and regional gaming firms already based at twofour54 – including Unity Technologies, as well as the new companies looking to tap into the MENA region’s fast-growing gaming and esports sectors.

The global gaming industry is projected to generate $300bn in revenue by 2025, with the MENA region witnessing the highest growth rates. Additionally, the esports sector is growing twice as fast in MENA as the global average due in part to a young population.

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