The partnership will see new products, services and solutions delivered to gamers in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
Mastercard has signed a three-year agreement with Saudi Esports Federation as an official sponsor of Gamers8, the gaming and esports event.
Catering to Saudi Arabia’s thriving gaming community, Mastercard will curate a diverse range of activities for gamers.
The announcement underlines Mastercard’s commitment to delivering meaningful, one-of-a-kind experiences for consumers, gamers and gaming enthusiasts across the Kingdom. Organised by the Saudi Esports Federation, Gamers8, which runs daily until September 8 at Boulevard Riyadh City.
As part of the agreement, Mastercard will sponsor the event, hosting a selection of daily tournaments and experiences for gaming enthusiasts to participate in over the course of the esports showpiece.
Mastercard and SEF will collaborate on metaverse and augmented reality (AR) activations, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gamers’ and fans’ loyalty solutions, and a gaming virtual MasterCard card.
Gaming and esports consumption in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach $6.8bn by 2030, according to a recent report by Boston Consulting Group.
Speaking about the partnership, Ahmed Albishri, Chief Operating Officer at Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The Saudi Esports Federation was established to nurture the Kingdom’s elite gaming athletes and develop its gaming community and industry. Over the years, we have taken several important strides towards doing exactly that. Our partnership with Mastercard represents a significant and timely step forward, one that will not only help us keep pace with the rest of the world but propel us to the leading edge of gaming. Together with Mastercard, we look forward to delivering truly rewarding experiences and creating lasting memories for people across the country to revel in. This promises to be a game-changer for all players.”
Adam Jones, Country General Manager, MENA Central, Mastercard, added: “Gamers8 is shaping up as a truly unique and history-making event — one that showcases the Kingdom’s growth as a leading digital hub, and provides people access to a wholly immersive experience. We are delighted to be working with the Saudi Esports Federation and our network to deliver the greatest esports and gaming event ever. Mastercard is creating meaningful connections with consumers by tapping into their passions, and this passion-led approach enables us to engage with the gaming and esports communities in Priceless ways that will create lasting memories. Our goal is to fully realize the potential of Gamers8 as a unique event; one that invites people to embark on a journey of discovery, fuel their passions, build memories for a lifetime and start something priceless.”
As part of the agreement, a digital asset enablement project will be launched in the Kingdom, with Mastercard designing, developing, launching, and maintaining an augmented reality (AR) activation, along with its very own metaverse, in the coming years.
