Visa, a world leader in digital payments, has announced the return of its ‘She’s Next’ for the third time in Saudi Arabia with its inaugural edition ‘She’s Next in Gaming’. The ‘She’s Next in Gaming’ initiative aims to empower female gamers by providing them with safe spaces to connect, compete and thrive in the rapidly growing gaming and eSports industry. Visa has collaborated with GCON, a leading gaming platform, which has focused on fostering talent, bridging gaps and meeting community demands since 2012.
She’s Next
She’s Next, empowered by Visa, is a global advocacy program that aims to support women-owned small businesses through funding, training and mentorship. This year’s edition of the program in Saudi Arabia will spotlight four sectors including gaming, sports, entrepreneurship and fashion.
Saudi Arabia’s gaming and eSports industry
In the last few years, Saudi Arabia’s gaming and eSports industry has emerged as a key sector for the country’s economic diversification strategy, which will contribute more than $13.32 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP by 2030. With 70 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population under the age of 35, the Kingdom is home to around 23.5 million gamers.
Currently, 48 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gamers are women. However, they face significant challenges including online bullying, lack of safe training, competition spaces, and predominantly male-dominated eSports teams and gaming company staff. Therefore, Visa’s partnership with GCON reaffirms its commitment to addressing these issues at the female-only gaming competition in Riyadh on June 7, 2024.
Ali Bailoun, Visa’s regional general manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, said: “Female gamers, who represent half of the Kingdom’s gaming population today, must be included and empowered in the gaming and eSports industry as the country focuses on becoming a global gaming hub.”
Bailoun reiterated Visa’s commitment to supporting women who have a passion for gaming to fuel their ambitions by launching the ‘She’s Next in Gaming’ initiative ahead of GCON. “This initiative empowers female gamers in Saudi Arabia by providing a safe and supportive environment,” added Bailoun.
Read: Saudi Arabia gears up for 1st Esports World Cup in July with over $60 million prize pool
She’s Next in Gaming
On June 7 in Riyadh, 800 avid women gamers will assemble at GCON to showcase their talents. Gamers can look forward to a diverse range of experiences and opportunities including mentorship, networking, access to thought leaders, and grants. To register for the competition, competitors can secure their place by purchasing a ticket for GCON.
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