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Saudi Arabia Unveils World’s First Gaming And eSport District

The site at Qiddiya will host global events and attract 10 million visitors annually with gaming-themed accommodation and 100,000 sqm of entertainment.

Published

5 months ago

December 15, 2023

Nour Nasir

saudi arabia unveils world's first gaming and esports district

Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia has revealed plans to create the world’s first dedicated gaming and eSports district at Qiddiya City. The project aims to propel the Kingdom into the thriving professional eSports scene.

In the heart of Qiddiya City — 40 km from the capital Riyadh — the new gaming district will be centered around four eSports venues designed to host prominent events and attract up to 10 million visitors yearly, the state news agency SPA announced.

saudi arabia esport district 1

The Gaming & eSports District launch comes after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s support for the sector demonstrated through a “National Strategy” and initiatives, including talent development programs and targeted investments. The district, with its widespread appeal to over two-thirds of the Saudi population, aims to “engage and inspire”.

saudi arabia esport district 2

Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood, the Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, explained: “The gaming and eSports sector is experiencing rapid growth, and we observe the ambitious plans to propel it forward. Our responsibility will be to host major events and tournaments by enhancing the infrastructure, enabling Qiddiya City to invite the world to live, learn, and compete in gaming and eSports. The gaming and eSports district in Qiddiya City caters to eSports professionals and gaming enthusiasts of all levels and ages. This district transforms the gaming world into a tangible reality, serving as a welcoming space for the gaming community”.

Also Read: The Middle East Is Rapidly Becoming An eSports Hub

The 500,000 square meter site will boast four gaming arenas with a total capacity of 73,000 seats. The largest of the venues is planned to have a capacity of 5,300, making it one of the biggest eSports stadiums in the world. The district will also be home to up to 25 eSports clubs, with 100,000 square meters allocated to retail, dining, and entertainment. When completed, Qiddiya City will allow gamers to live, work, and play, even offering gaming-themed apartments and hotels.

Related Topics:eSports Gaming Saudi Arabia

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Meet Yango Play’s My Vibe: A Real-Time Personalized Music Stream

The entertainment super app now boasts a unique feature that adapts to user music preferences during listening.

Published

14 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Nour Nasir

Yango

Yango Play, the AI-driven super app combining video streaming, music, and games, has introduced a feature in its music section known as My Vibe. The new playlist tool dynamically adapts to a listener’s song choices in real time, identifying changing preferences and mood shifts immediately.

yango play my vibe user interface

My Vibe works by harnessing an advanced AI algorithm that analyzes over a thousand variables about a user’s behavior and the content. The result is a potentially endless stream of curated tracks, artists, and genres that align perfectly with a user’s preferences, mood, and historical song choices. The new feature can identify when a track is skipped or not completed and continually refines the listening experience in real time.

roman shimansky mena region business director at yango

Roman Shimansky, Yango’s MENA Region Business Director, explained the benefits of the new feature: “My Vibe excels at sparking a range of emotions, providing that delightful surprise when you encounter a track for the first time and instantly know you’ll love it. With My Vibe, there’s no need to toggle between your favorite tunes and new tracks or waste time choosing playlists. Everything you need is accessible with just one touch”.

Also Read: Best Music Streaming Services In The Middle East

My Vibe uses neural models to understand the evolving musical interests of its users. The sophisticated tool studies track, analyzing their spectrograms, frequency ranges, rhythm, vocal tone, and much more. With all that information in place, the algorithm then searches for tracks with similar parameters, suggesting them to listeners based on likes, dislikes, and even other users with similar tastes.

Since being released in the MENA region in February, the Yango Play app has proved popular across the region. The service boasts music for every mood and genre imaginable and streams the latest Arabic and Khaleeji hits in expertly curated playlists, helping users discover rising local talent across genres.