Today, the Saudi Esports Foundation announced an MOU with PUBG Mobile to create a “premier” PUBG Mobile competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to a LinkedIn post from the Saudi Esports Federation, the already-existing PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC) is being integrated into the Saudi eLeague. This establishes it as the top-tier official PUBG competition in the region, along with some other perks.
The MOU between the two includes two other major benefits. The first is that the PMNC KSA champion will go directly to the PUBG Mobile World Cup. This gives the winner of the PMNC even more prestige, while also entering them into the $3 million prize pool of the World Cup.
Additionally, the MOU means that PUBG Mobile will be part of the Saudi Esports Federation’s “grassroots-to-pro” system. This includes the SEF Academy and the university league. This is a program that’s meant to help youth esports players find their footing and join the pro league as they grow older.
An MOU is virtually the first step to an official contract, though the fact that it’s already been announced means it’s probably pretty set in stone.”
The partnership works towards the SEF’s goal, which is described on LinkedIn as, “building a future where Saudi players grow locally and compete globally.”
According to the SEF, this announcement has already caused record-breaking player registrations in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has a lot going on in the esports industry. It’s a hub of major competitions like the Esports World Cup, and it’ll be the first location to host the Olympic Esports Games in 2027. Plus, it’s working on the gaming-focused city Qiddiya.
