HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan: Chairman of Saudi Esports Federation

HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan 170 | Chairman, Saudi Esports FederationOn this episode, we were honored to welcome HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation.We explore the remarkable evolution of Saudi Arabia’s gaming and esports sector from the federation’s establishment in 2018 to its central role in positioning the Kingdom as a leading global esports destination. The conversation traces Saudi Arabia’s hosting of Gamers8, the Kingdom’s flagship international esports event, for two consecutive years, followed by the launch of the Esports World Cup, hosted in Saudi Arabia and delivered by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Over the past two years, the tournament has rapidly emerged as a global phenomenon, welcoming more than 3 million visitors.Prince Faisal shares insights into the groundbreaking Gamers Without Borders charity initiative, the growing participation of women in Saudi gaming, and the infrastructure being built to nurture local talent into world-class professionals. The discussion also addresses global criticism, the physical and mental demands of professional esports, and the ambitious vision to establish Saudi Arabia as the world’s natural hub for esports by 2030.

0:00 Intro

1:33 From GSA Cup to Gamers8

4:56 Gaming for Charity

8:13 Esports World Cup: Growth and Statistics

12:15 Becoming Chairman

20:18 Esports Career Pathways in Saudi Arabia

25:29 Women in Gaming

30:25 Is Esports a Real Sport?

35:46 Visa Programs Infrastructure

39:07 Mega Events vs. Grassroots

41:50 Global Game Publishers

45:51 The Future of Esports in the Olympics

48:15 Personal Motivation

53:40 Telling Saudi Stories

56:02 Prince Faisal’s All-Time Favorite Games

59:04 Vision for 2030

1:02:37 Changing Perceptions Conclusion