Qiddiya City Esports Arena

A key focus of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy is the Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District, the world’s first mixed-use gaming and esports district. It is set to attract gamers from across the globe and position Saudi Arabia as the global epicenter of gaming and esports.

Within the Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District, the Populous-designed Qiddiya City Esports Arena stands out. Featuring the largest total video screen area of any esports arena in the world, as well as 4D haptic seats where visitors can sense, feel, and even smell the action, the striking design creates an iconic venue capable of adapting to multiple experiences and events.

Featuring a distinctive architectural identity, the 5,300-seat multifunctional venue will provide a best-in-class experience for players and spectators alike. Extensive sightline studies have been carried out to optimize seating in the main auditorium for the best views, and parametric design tools have been utilized to refine screen locations, resulting in an innovative “digital chandelier” placed centrally within the seating bowl for enhanced gameplay content delivery.

The combination of screen size and 4D haptic seats, together with specifications for the most advanced AV systems available, ensures visitors will enjoy a fully immersive and ever-changing experience.

The design philosophy for the arena centers on creating a fantasy world for fans. The general admission experience is carefully crafted, with two concourses wrapping around the seating bowl, offering unique designs and functions. These include a centralized arcade with breakout zones for gaming, a food “souk,” retail and an immersive entertainment zone. This design ambition extends to the food and beverage offerings, providing variety and choice through diverse typologies such as self-checkout markets and gaming bars. Many of these spaces can operate before an event or fully on non-event days, with access from the podium, which increases the venue’s operational flexibility and its integration into the community.

Premium hospitality, constituting 20% of the arena, introduces six unique concepts, rejecting standard hospitality conventions in favor of themes aligned with gaming culture. Meticulous attention is also given to the design of the back-of-house and event production spaces, positioning the venue as the preferred choice for fans, brands, athletes and promoters.