Russian esports club network True Gamers signed a master franchise agreement with Saudi businessman Nawaf Albishri: the company received an investment of $45 million to open more than 150 esports stadiums in Saudi Arabia over five years. A True Gamers representative reported this to RB.RU.
As part of the agreement, True Gamers will provide franchisees with full online and offline support, including necessary documentation, staff training, marketing strategy and infrastructure assistance. The company’s first office is scheduled to open within six months in Jeddah.
According to True Gamers CEO and co-founder Anton Vasilenko, the expansion into Saudi Arabia will allow the company to strengthen its global presence, as well as “explore new standards of business development and customer relations and incorporate them into Russian business culture.”
According to True Gamers, the Saudi gaming market will reach almost $2.8 billion by 2026. There are currently around 21 million gamers in the region, representing approximately 58% of the total population.
- True Gamers was founded in 2019 by Anton Vasilenko, Vladislav Belyanin and Vladislav Gurov. The company calls itself “a next-generation esports club network” (for example, in 2023, the network launched robotic waiters at its UAE branch).
- True Gamers currently has 124 esports clubs in the UAE and Russia. In 2023, its turnover amounted to more than 20 million dollars with a monthly customer base of 450 thousand people.
Author:
Anastasia Marina
Source: RB
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