RIYADH: A high-end simulator zone is set to land in Riyadh as Aramco partners with the Esports World Cup. As the official title partner of the Aramco SIM Arena, the oil giant will present a high-end simulator zone where racing enthusiasts can compete in community tournaments. This comes as the Esports World Cup Foundation and Aramco have announced a strategic partnership, with the oil company extending its sponsorship of the event, which will take place this summer. The Aramco SIM Arena will offer hyper-realistic simulators, providing an experience akin to driving a Formula 1 car, and will be a premier destination for sim-racing fans. Saudi state-owned companies are increasingly investing in the gaming sector at home and overseas to further solidify the national vision, with the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund increasing its stake in Japan-based Koei Tecmo earlier in 2024. Starting July 3, the EWCF will transform Riyadh into the epicenter of esports fandom and gaming culture with an eight-week festival. Athletes and clubs will compete in a 21-game global championship for a share of more than $60 million in prize money, the largest in esports history. The event will feature gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences, and more. This partnership builds on Aramco’s previous sponsorships of Gamers Without Borders and Gamers8: The Land of Heroes festival. Aramco’s involvement with the Esports World Cup is part of a broader ambition to promote economic development and diversification, provide new opportunities for young people, and help build a diverse and dynamic Saudi economy, according to a press release. The partnership aims to create a lasting impact on the world of esports, showcasing Saudi talent on the global stage and inspiring today’s youth through gaming. Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy aims to contribute $13 billion to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product by 2030, with professional services firm PwC predicting that in 2026 the global gaming industry will be worth $320 billion. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, outlined the nation’s ambitious goal amid projections that the global gaming community will grow to 3.7 billion gamers. In an interview with Arab News in August 2023, Prince Faisal stated that gaming is set to contribute to roughly 1 percent of the nation’s GDP. “(Some) 68 percent of our population consider themselves gamers, which is mirrored across the Gulf and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region,” he said.