ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) announced the official opening of its new regional headquarters and flagship esports venue located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This move marks a significant and long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its rapidly expanding esports ecosystem, solidifying Riyadh’s emergence as a global capital of esports.
A New Global Stage for Major Events and Community
The venue is a unique, state-of-the-art facility designed to host premier esports events, notably serving as the key regional hub for competitions like the ESL Saudi Challenge and other international tournaments.
The venue is also set to become a home for fans and communities of esports, sports, and pop culture, offering unmatched experiences to compete, learn, and socialize.
- Venue Capabilities: Spanning over 1,000 square meters with capacity for 500+ guests, it is Riyadh’s ultimate event space.
- Production Power: Equipped with unparalleled technology, including 300+ square meters of LED screens, the studio offers full production and end-to-end services ideal for major broadcasts, tournaments, brand activations, and media events.
“Today marks an important moment not simply for EFG, but for the future of esports in Saudi Arabia,” said Niccolo Maisto, CEO of EFG. “We are committed to supporting the Kingdom’s vision, tapping into its energetic, young population to fuel major growth. With the opening of our new regional headquarters, we are establishing a new stage for our most exciting competitions, while helping to drive key infrastructure and localized content. We firmly believe Riyadh is becoming the global capital of esports, and we’re honored to play a leading role.”
Investing in Local Talent and the Saudi National Strategy
EFG’s presence and investment directly support the Kingdom’s National Games & Esports Strategy, which targets 39,000 job creations and a SAR 50 billion contribution to GDP by 2030.
The venue will function as a vital regional hub for capability-building, prioritizing talent development for Saudi nationals and launching a comprehensive recruitment drive across multiple functions:
- Broadcast Production
- Content Creation and Arabic Localization
- Event Operations
- Platform Localization
- Community Management
By nurturing local talent and providing professional pathways, EFG is helping to turn passion into profession and build a sustainable, competitive esports ecosystem in the region. The studio is designed to be a place where local talent can be trained and mentored, and where Arabic-language content can be produced and amplified globally.
“Walking into the new facility in Riyadh, I felt the energy of a new chapter and the opportunity for us as Saudi talent to shape the future of esports,” added Mohammed Alasiri, HR Director, EFG. “This studio isn’t just a building; it’s a hub for local ambition, global standards, and community growth.”
EFG is the culmination of more than two decades of innovation in esports and gaming, drawing on the heritage of ESL, FACEIT and DreamHack to build communities that go beyond gameplay, connecting players, fans, and creators worldwide. The group achieved a combined fan reach of 225 million, 522 million live-stream hours, and 3.8 billion online impressions over the past few years. The opening of EFG’s Riyadh headquarters signals far more than a regional office; it is an anchor for global ambition meeting local potential.
“EFG has been a core part of esports in KSA from the very beginning, including Gamers Without Borders and most recently as the Official Operating Partner of the Esports World Cup,” continued Niccolo Maisto. “We were here for the past, we are doubling down on our investment for the present, and we are committed to building the future of esports in KSA. This studio is a physical testament to that commitment, allowing us to effectively bridge local Saudi audiences and competitions with our global fanbase and events, creating highly attractive, long-term engagement opportunities for international and local brands.”
