• UAE-based True Gamers secures USD 5M seed funding to expand across MENA and Europe, scaling via franchising and venture capital.
• The funding follows a USD 45M raise in January to establish 150+ esports venues in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030.
• True Gamers, founded in 2022, operates gaming cafés and aims to fuel regional esports growth through tech and franchise expansion.

True Gamers

What happened? UAE’s True Gamers secured USD 5 million in a seed funding round. 

This comes after it raised USD 45 million in January 2024 to establish more than 150 esports facilities in Saudi Arabia.

“The expansion into Saudi Arabia will elevate True Gamers’ global presence and play a pivotal role in propelling the growth of the Kingdom’s eSports industry,” said True Gamers founder and CEO Anton Vasilenko.

What will they do with the funding? With the capital, it aims to expand across MENA and Europe. It also aims to expand its franchise network and develop its tech stack. Furthermore, the company seeks to scale through a hybrid model of franchising and venture capital. 

Gaming 

Who are they? Founded in 2022 by Anton Vasilenko and Vladislav Belyanin, True Gamers is an e-sports gaming club chain. 

It is headquartered in Abu Dhabi’s International Financial Centre and operates 14 game cafés in the UAE. It is expanding with 10 more locations across the UAE, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, and France.

The gaming market  Statista projects the global gaming market to reach USD 522.46 billion by 2029. Additionally, venture investment in gaming has risen by 35% this year compared to the previous quarter, hitting USD 373 million. 

GCC Gaming Market The GCC is witnessing significant growth in the esports sector. For instance, revenue in the Esports market is projected to reach USD 25.9 million in 2025. In addition,  the number of users is expected to reach 5.9 million users by 2029.
The region as a whole has seen a rise in dedicated gaming arenas and esports facilities. For instance, Saudi’s Vision 20230 identifies e-Sports as a method to engage the nation’s youth and drive investment and innovation in the digital sector.