By unanimous decision of the Executive Committee, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the Saudi Esports Federation, has been appointed as Vice President of the Global Esports Federation effective December 1, 2021. His appointment comes as a result of his efforts and commitment to growing the esports industry both regionally and globally.
Commenting on his appointment, Prince Faisal said: "On this occasion, I would like to thank the Executive Committee for the trust they have put in me in me as Vice President of the Global Esports Federation and I am committed to exceeding all expectations set by the global esports community."
He continued: "I believe that this will enable us all to broaden our horizons and to go above and beyond to serve the global world of esports. To me, nurturing the industry has been and will always be a mission, and serving the community is a
passion. This only makes me more compelled to do so with great partners and colleagues."
Prince Faisal has boasted an impressive track record over the years with his leadership of both the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) and the Arab Esports Federation (AEF). His vision is to create an impact that generates a ripple effect, evolving sectors and services that were traditionally thought to be unrelated to esports. He moved the SEF from its original model of one-time large events to a sustainable and long-lasting model of creating IPs that will grow with time and provide a stable career path in the many disciplines that surround professional competitive gaming.
As a result, today the Saudi Esports Federation is seen as the subject matter expert in gaming and esports that is coordinating government action, guiding investors, and providing gamers with platforms to compete and socialize in Saudi Arabia.
The Global Esports Federation is an organization that has been active in bringing esports to the Olympics as well as helping to draft international esports laws. By promoting competitions and community development, the Global Esports Federation promotes the global esports movement and acts as an authentic voice of the movement.
The Vice President of the Global Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, will continue to serve as the President of the Saudi Esports Federation and the President of the Arab Esports Federation.
Prince Faisal has been the President of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) and the Arab Esports Federation since their establishment in 2017.
Under his leadership, the federation quickly grew the range of its activities to become the leading Saudi entity in charge of growing the Saudi esports industry. Initially, the federation focused on providing gamers with platforms to become athletes. Now, the SEF lives at the center of the Saudi esports ecosystem, to open doors and enable all that want to grow it.
Prince Faisal is a believer in the power of esports and aims to show the world how it can be a force for good. In 2020, he led the federation in designing the first-ever partnerships between UN-humanitarian aid organizations and a gaming event, Gamers Without Boarders, which became the world’s largest gaming esports charitable event. The partnership resulted in donations of $20 million for organizations such as UNICEF, GAVI the Vaccine Alliance, and the International Medical Corps in its two editions.
Yet, long before his official role as the leader of the Saudi and gaming and esports movement, Prince Faisal has always had a passion for the industry. An avid gamer from youth and a believer in the storytelling power of video games, he always believed that the Arab world could be the source of some of the best stories to be told via this medium.
"What is known as the Arab world is the cradle of civilization, at a point in time we have been known as the keepers of history. For centuries we have been known for our storytelling. I believe we can create the most captivating stories that form the basis of video games. Through them, we can share tales of culture and societies," said Prince Faisal.
As the son of Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States of America from 1983 – 2005, Prince Faisal spent much of his early years in the US, where he graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in 2003 with BA in telecommunications.
The Saudi Esports Federation is the regulating body in charge of nurturing elite gaming athletes and developing the gaming community and industry in Saudi Arabia.
The Federation’s activities are categorized into two complementary streams. The first stream works to develop all levels of competitive gamers starting with the grassroots community level and moving up to professional esports athletes that can achieve global excellence. The second stream works to develop the entire gaming/esports value chain by catalyzing the industry and enabling talent.
Since its establishment in late 2017, the federation has organized multiple world-class national and international tournaments and events attracted investment from local private sector actors, and worked with international developers on opportunities in the Saudi market.
