Dubai Selected As Host Of The 2025 Global Esports Games
Dubai has been selected as the next host city of the Global Esports Games.
After Singapore hosted the inaugural event last year, Istanbul will be the host this year and Riyadh will then take on hosting responsibilities in 2023.
The Global Esports Federation (GEF) also announced that China would host the event in 2024 and that the United States would be its choice for 2026, leaving just 2025’s event as without a host.
Now we know that Dubai will be the host venue for that event, after an announcement at the start of the 2022 Global Esports Tour, which got underway this week, appropriately at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
It had been announced that the UAE would be the venue for 2025’s event, and Dubai was the likeliest venue for it, but this has now been confirmed with the GEF’s announcement on June 15th.
The move follows on from other deals announced by GEF including a partnership with sports, talent and events management company IMG to develop an inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championship, which is expected to be tied in with the official Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2022 Global Esports Games.
Trio Of Titles In Inaugural Games
Last year in Singapore, the Global Esports Games featured competitions in three different esports games:
- Street Fighter V
- eFootball PES 2021
- Dota 2
The list of games that will form part of this year’s event in Turkey’s most famous city have not yet been announced, but it would be surprising if the number of games has not been expanded to include more popular esports titles.
This is especially the case when you consider that the GEF organises the Global Esports Tour, which sees a variety of esports tournaments competed for across a variety of games in a variety of cities around the world each year.
The last event on that tour prior to the announcement was a $250,000 CS:GO tournament won by Ninjas in Pyjamas.
“Light Up Dubai”
Speaking to confirm Dubai as the host city, President of the GEF, Chris Chan, remarked:
Congratulations Dubai and the people of the United Arab Emirates. The Global Esports Federation is delighted to confirm Dubai as the host of our flagship property – the Global Esports Games – in December 2025.
Once again, the eyes of the world, the energy, the passion of our #worldconnected community will light up Dubai, the UAE and the region.
Those sentiments were echoed by Paul J. Foster, the CEO of the GEF.
“We are excited to see the incredible progress since our signing of a Strategic Framework Agreement with Emirates Sports at Expo 2020 Dubai last November,” Foster revealed.
The whole world knows that Dubai is a great host and offers an epic world-class setting. We can’t wait to see athletes from across the world – standing on the centre stage at the GEF Arena in December 2025 – as they compete for the glory of their home country flag, the fans at home and in the stands, and the chance to show the world their many skills, talents, their personal journey and desire to compete.
For those wondering how to watch esports events such as the GEF tournaments, options will likely include the usual Live Streaming services, such as Twitch, Facebook and/or YouTube, plus there may also be live television coverage depending on your locality.
