The Middle East’s first interschool esports tournament is taking place in Dubai from the 21st to the 22nd of February. The competition will take place at Meydan Grandstand. It is part of the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival, a festival focused on celebrating women in gaming.
The tournament is open to all schools in the UAE. Schools wishing to compete are allowed to sign up a maximum of two students for each competition. There are two competitions for different age groups, one for junior participants aged 6 to 11, and another for seniors aged 12 to 16. Boys and girls will compete in six-minute games of FIFA 2020. The qualifiers will take place on the 21st of February. Followed by, knockout games and the finals on the next day.
What Can Participants Gain?
First and second place winners will receive a 255,000 AED ($69,400) scholarship. While those who participate can gain insight into the world of eSports, through parallel activities such as the career fair. This can also help students and parents gain a better understanding of careers in the eSports industry.
“The Interschool Esports Tournament is a path-breaking initiative to provide a platform for younger generations, as well as families, to explore and harness the positive aspects of gaming. We are grateful for the lead taken by all Governmental agencies to make this a reality,”
Sanjay Holmukhe, CEO, Techxhub
Meydan One and Galaxy Racer Esports are the main organizers of the event. Meydan One is providing the venue for the GIRLGAMER Esports festival. Moreover, Galaxy Racer Esports is a Dubai-based Esports organization. Techxhub, a leading distributor of gaming equipment in the region, is the event’s main sponsor. “The Interschool eSports Tournament is a path-breaking initiative to provide a platform for younger generations, as well as families, to explore and harness the positive aspects of gaming. We are grateful for the lead taken by all governmental agencies to make this a reality,” said Sanjay Holmukhe, Techxhub’s CEO.
The tournament is supported by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA), 10X Media and the Dubai Sports Council. Dubai is actively trying to transform itself into a gaming and eSports hub. “As part of our 10X strategy focused on transforming Dubai’s media industry through future-oriented projects, we seek to develop the city into a hub for sectors like esports that are riding the new wave of media convergence,” said Abdulla Al Mansoori, Team Leader of Dubai 10X Media.
Esports in MENA
The global eSports industry is growing quickly and is projected to reach $196 billion in 2022. However, MENA’s gaming and eSports ecosystem lags behind in investment and infrastructure in comparison to North America, Europe and Asia. In 2019, MENA’s gaming and eSports ecosystem got a boost with a $50 million investment from W Ventures. The company announced that it will develop an offline and online gaming platform for gamers in the region in partnership with Redpeg.
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