Qiddiya Gaming Sponsors Echo’s Race to World First 

Qiddiya Gaming sponsors World of Warcraft guild Echo. Credit: Qiddiya Gaming

World of Warcraft guild Echo is being sponsored by Qiddiya Gaming, which promotes gaming and esports becoming part of the Saudi Arabian city project backed by the Saudi Arabian government’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. While specifics on the deal are unknown,  Qiddiya branding is appearing during broadcasts on Twitch and on Echo’s social media channels.

The Echo Guild announcement was revealed in a LinkedIn post from Qiddiya Gaming Senior Associate – Strategy Marwan Al-Zahrani:

“Epic news from #QiddiyaGaming! We’re thrilled to announce that we’re sponsoring not one, but TWO amazing guilds in their quest for #WorldofWarcraft Race to World First! 🏆🎮 Blurring the lines between digital and physical planes, play and sponsorship goes beyond just a physical presence; it’s about fostering a community, supporting passion, and celebrating achievements in the gaming world.

“Insane seeing the epic raids & battles I used to partake in Azeroth getting the love and support to cast an even bigger spotlight on them for more memorable gaming moments!”

On Friday The Esports Advocate reported that another World of Warcraft guild, Method, was also being sponsored by the Saudi Arabian government-backed city project to sponsor its World’s First attempt in the new World of Warcraft expansion, The War Within. Method’s began its Race to World First for Nerub’ar Palace in the new expansion on Sept. 19.

Qiddiya has been actively promoting its brand through sponsorships and partnerships with gaming events, esports organizations,  game publishers and developers, and more. More details about just what Qiddiya is and how it is partnering with the esports and gaming industry, check out this TEA report.

Qiddiya City is a mega city project backed by the Saudi Arabian government as part of its plan to transform the country’s economy and slowly move away from generating revenue from just oil.  The Saudi Arabian government has been criticized for “sports washing,” or using sports and other forms of entertainment such as gaming and esports as a cover for its record on human rights, women’s rights, and military actions in Yemen, among other things. These criticisms have been highlighted by international watchdog groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.