With its large population of gamers and a thriving esports ecosystem, the Middle East is set to shape the future of live entertainment. And that is the idea of the megaproject of an esports island.
Gaming lounge operator True Gamers has unveiled plans to build the Abu Dhabi’s first area dedicated to the industry, with sections for competition, training and athlete accommodation. The development would also be the first of its kind worldwide.
Location
One possible location for the “esports Island” project is between Al Bandar and Al Dana developments in Al Raha Beach, True Gamers co-founder Vlad Belyanin told the media. The proposed spot is at the heart of one of the city’s quickly growing neighborhoods, facing Yas Island on one side and Raha Beach’s housing developments on the other.
Cost
It could cost an estimated $1 billion, Belyanin says, with True Gamers committing between $280 million and $300 million. The company is in talks with “high-profile investors” to raise the full funds needed to acquire the island and build the facilities.
Highlights
The island’s proposed sections would incorporate one area called The Digital Tower, a hub with spaces for meetings, start-up accelerators and animation studios.
TG Arena would introduce spaces for esports tournaments as well as a computer club with around 100 PCs, a simulation racing section and a space for console gaming.
A hotel is also planned for the island, called GG Resort, with 200 rooms, each equipped with gaming PCs. A “parachute jump check-in” inspired by popular battle royale game PUBG is also planned.
Anton Vasilenko, chief executive and co-founder of True Gamers, says: “True Gamers conducted a comprehensive market analysis of the Mena region’s esports landscape and the global esports industry’s growth trajectory before esports Island development.
“This in-depth analysis gives us the confidence that the proposed business model will be instrumental in bringing esports Island to life.”
Plans for the island were designed by a team of architects including Abdullah Bin Baz and Haitham Khojali. No exact timeline has been specified for the project, but True Gamers representatives say more announcements will be made soon.
True Gamers operates 14 gaming lounges in Dubai, with more than 100 in Eastern Europe. In October, a report from Boston Consulting Group estimated there are three billion gamers worldwide, with 500 million esports enthusiasts, highlighting the Middle East as an “emerging force” in that space.
