MENATech Entertainment powers Middle East's esports rise with education, tournaments, and national collaboration
Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy projects US$13.3 billion in economic impact by 2030. As part of its broader 2030 economic transformation, the Kingdom plans to create 39,000 esports-related jobs, driven by large-scale investments and a national push to become a global hub for competitive gaming. Meanwhile, the UAE's Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033 aims to position the city among the world's top 10 gaming hubs by 2033, contributing $1 billion to GDP and creating 30,000 new jobs. These initiatives have created fertile ground for companies like MENATech to scale up their impact.
'The Middle East is no longer a frontier market for gaming and esports; it's an engine of innovation, talent, and long-term opportunity,' said Mario Pérez, CEO of MENATech Entertainment. 'From launching GAMERGY MENA to building educational programs and regional leagues, our on-the-ground work across the region reflects the scale of what's possible here. Our global know-how, local partnerships, and community-driven development are helping ensure that the region is leading the global esports conversation. With visionary policies, tech-savvy youth, and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, this is a dynamic launchpad for scaling the global gaming industry, now valued at $200 billion.'
Aligning with national economic visions, in early 2025, MENATech brought one of the world's most iconic gaming festivals, GAMERGY, to the region for the first time. Held in Cairo, GAMERGY MENA drew over 40,000 attendees and featured top-tier tournaments in titles like Valorant, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, and Rocket League. Supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Youth & Sports, IMKAN Misr, Samsung, and Red Bull, the event marked a pivotal moment for regional esports, with prize pools exceeding EGP 2 million.
In partnership with Riot Games, the gaming firm launched the Strike Arabia Championship, the first official regional Valorant league. Spanning the GCC, Levant, Iraq, Egypt, and North Africa, the competition included both amateur and professional divisions, with top players advancing to European LAN finals. This structure created a bridge between regional players and international stages, giving local talent a platform to shine.
In Saudi Arabia, MENATech contributed to the initial creation of the Saudi Esports Academy, laying the groundwork for a more formal and on-site educational model. The company also leads the UNIVERSITY Esports program across the MENA region, empowering students through workshops and careers in broadcasting, event management, and digital marketing. Historically backed by global brands like Amazon and HP Omen, the initiative is one of the few in the region linking competitive gaming with long-term career pathways.
With one of the world's youngest populations, the appetite for competitive gaming is massive in the region. That demand is matched by cultural momentum, where gaming is considered a viable, respected career. Dubai is already home to over 350 gaming companies, including 260 specialised developers. Major events like the Dubai Esports Festival and the development of innovation hubs such as the DMCC Gaming Centre are supported by the issuance of gaming-related resident visas.
MENATech continues to differentiate itself by integrating deeply into the region's ecosystem. Rather than operate as an external player, the company works alongside public and private entities to build lasting programs and infrastructure. Its approach is not just to host events, but to develop skills, create jobs, and inspire innovation.
With the Esports World Cup returning to Riyadh in 2025 and more international gaming firms entering the Gulf, the spotlight on the Middle East has never been stronger. MENATech is focused on scaling its education programs, growing its tournament portfolio, and building a sustainable esports economy. Through strategic alignment with national initiatives, mega events, and investments in talent development, the company is helping position the gaming industry as a key driver of economic diversification and cultural innovation across the Middle East.
About GGTech Entertainment
GGTech Entertainment is an international company operating in Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and North Africa, dedicated to the development of innovative leisure, entertainment and educational projects through gaming, esports and technology. Focusing on innovation, applied technology and interactive environments, the company offers a wide range of technological solutions to promote the development of society and provide its users with a highly customisable and high quality gaming experience.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
15 minutes ago
- Zawya
Early UAE merchants to gain competitive edge with Keeta's Founding Vendor Program
Dunkin Saudi Arabia sees 100% increase in order volume since joining Keeta Dubai, UAE – Keeta, the international subsidiary of Meituan — China's on-demand delivery giant, today announced the launch of its Founding Vendor Program in the United Arab Emirates. The initiative is designed to give early restaurant and retail partners a strategic edge ahead of Keeta's full-scale market rollout. As the global arm of Meituan - the world's largest food delivery company with an annual gross transaction volume of US$155 billion - Keeta harnesses the operational scale and technological depth of one of the world's largest food delivery platforms. Meituan's infrastructure — supporting over 150 million peak daily orders and more than 770 million global users — positions Keeta to bring a proven, globally successful model to high-growth markets. Keeta made headlines in the UAE earlier when it successfully piloted drone delivery in Dubai, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, last-mile excellence, and digital-first logistics. With this new merchant initiative, the company continues its momentum by deepening partnerships with the local business ecosystem. The Founding Vendor Program offers a suite of exclusive, limited-time benefits for merchants who join Keeta before its official public launch in the UAE: Zero setup cost: Vendors joining during the Founding Vendor Program will face no upfront costs — with 0 subscription and registration fees — making it easier and more accessible for merchants to onboard and start selling immediately. Priority exposure in national launch campaigns: Early vendors will be spotlighted in Keeta's nationwide marketing and advertising efforts, driving meaningful visibility and customer demand. Free access to in-app traffic: Unlike traditional platforms, Keeta's algorithm organically distributes customer traffic, eliminating the need for paid in-app promotions and leveling the playing field for all merchants. Driving demand and sustainable growth: Through elevated customer experiences, optimized cost structures, and strong consumer engagement, the platform helps merchants grow their user base and increase order volumes in a lasting, scalable way. 'The UAE stands at the crossroads of digital innovation and entrepreneurial opportunity,' said Cynthia Chen, General Manager of Keeta UAE. 'Our Founding Vendor Program is a gateway for local businesses to tap into a high-growth digital ecosystem, backed by global tech, smart infrastructure, and a commitment to merchant-first success. We believe this market has the potential to shape the future of delivery — and we want our earliest partners to help lead that transformation.' Merchant experiences in other Keeta markets highlight the real, measurable impact of this partnership model. 'Partnering with Keeta has been a game-changer for our business. Since onboarding, we've seen a 100% increase in order volume and expanded our customer base by over 100%. What stood out most was their deep understanding of our needs and their ability to deliver tailored solutions that actually drive growth. It's rare to find a partner so committed to long-term success,' commented Emad Abdalazez, Head of Delivery at Dunkin Arabia. Interested merchants can apply to join the Founding Vendor Program by contacting the Keeta UAE partnerships team at Limited slots are available during this early phase. With this program, Keeta is not only lowering the barriers to entry — it is also creating a foundation for long-term, sustainable merchant success. By combining global operational expertise with local insight, Keeta is setting a new benchmark for food delivery in the UAE. 'We're here to do more than deliver food — we're here to build lasting value for our partners,' added Chen. 'By combining powerful tech, localized support, and real growth opportunities, we're creating a platform where UAE businesses can thrive from the very beginning.'
Gulf Business
33 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
Uber launches Senior Accounts in MENA to support older adults' mobility
Uber has introduced a new feature across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region designed to make transportation easier and more accessible for older adults. The launch of Senior Accounts and Simple Mode aims to help older people travel independently while giving their families peace of mind. Now available in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Lebanon, the feature allows family members to set up and manage rides for older relatives, even if they live in different cities or countries. Senior Accounts are part of Uber's Family Profiles and provide a streamlined version of the app with larger text, simplified navigation, and the ability for trusted family members to provide remote assistance. For users who prefer to ride on their own, Simple Mode can be activated through the app's accessibility settings, offering a user-friendly interface with fewer steps and clearer prompts. 'These features reflect the company's ongoing efforts to make the Uber app a platform that works for the entire family, from teens to seniors,' the company said. Building on the success of Teen Accounts, Uber is bridging another important gap in the mobility space. 'In the MENA region, where strong family ties and intergenerational support are a way of life, this offering will help older adults stay independent and connected, with the reassurance that loved ones are always just a tap away.' Read: The features come as mobility challenges for seniors in the region—such as limited public transport access, long distances, or extreme heat—can pose significant barriers. Senior Accounts bridge these gaps by allowing older riders to save favourite destinations, choose flexible payment options, and share trip details in real time with loved ones. Family members can also book or monitor rides remotely through the app. How it works: A family organiser creates a Family Profile and invites an older adult to join as a senior. The senior receives a text message with a link to download the app and register. Once set up, they can request rides themselves or allow a family member to manage trips on their behalf. For those not added to a Family Profile, Simple Mode remains available as an independent feature through the app's accessibility settings. Following successful launches in the US, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, Uber's rollout in the MENA region underscores its broader strategy of building inclusive technology that meets the needs of all age groups. The company developed these features in collaboration with older riders and accessibility experts to ensure the platform works for every stage of life.
Zawya
40 minutes ago
- Zawya
Introducing the reimagined AWS MSSP Competency
Dubai, UAE – AWS, the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, has updated its AWS MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) Competency (previously AWS Level 1 MSSP Competency) for partners with turn-key security solutions that transform how organizations approach cloud security. The update includes new categories to validate Partners' security expertise in specific domains including Infrastructure Security, Workload Security, Application Security, Data Protection, Identity & Access Management, Incident Response, and Cyber Recovery. These categories validate service partners' capabilities to deliver comprehensive security outcomes leveraging native AWS services and best-of-breed security tools. Partners must meet core MSSP requirements and demonstrate expertise in at least one category through technical validation. Additionally, MSSP Competency Partners have the option to showcase how they integrate validated AWS Security Competency ISV solutions into their managed security services. This visibility helps AWS customers identify which MSSP Competency Partners can effectively manage their existing third-party security tools as part of a comprehensive security solution. About Amazon Web Services Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 114 Availability Zones within 36 geographic regions, with announced plans for 16 more Availability Zones and five more AWS Regions in Chile, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon.
