The MPL MENA partnership with Qiddiya City has been officially unveiled, marking a landmark five-year collaboration aimed at accelerating the growth of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) esports across the Middle East and North Africa.
This comes just as MPL MENA Season 9 closes out with record-breaking viewership, a sold-out Grand Finals, and new international qualifications for the 2026 Esports World Cup.
Announced at the MPL MENA Season 9 Grand Finals, the deal positions Qiddiya City as the league’s Official Partner, reinforcing a long-term vision to strengthen entertainment, esports infrastructure, and youth engagement across one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming regions.
MPL MENA partnership with Qiddiya City signals long-term ecosystem growth
The MPL MENA partnership with Qiddiya City is designed to go beyond sponsorship, focusing instead on building sustainable esports experiences across the region.
Over the next five years, Qiddiya City will support MPL MENA through:
- broadcast integrations
- on-site activations
- fan engagement programs
- community-driven initiatives
In return, MPL MENA will help expand Qiddiya City’s visibility within the global gaming and esports audience, particularly through MLBB’s massive mobile esports ecosystem.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at Moonton Games, said the partnership reflects a shift in what esports audiences now expect, highlighting the growing demand for live experiences, community spaces, and entertainment-driven events rather than competition alone.
Season 9 becomes MPL MENA’s biggest event yet
The announcement of the MPL MENA partnership with Qiddiya City came at the end of a historic Season 9, which delivered the league’s strongest offline performance to date.
For the first time, the MPL MENA Grand Finals were hosted in a professional indoor sports arena at the Hassan Mostafa Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt.
The event also marked the league’s first official ticketed Grand Finals in the country, with all 3,000 tickets completely sold out.
The sell-out crowd cemented Season 9 as MPL MENA’s largest offline event ever, reflecting rapidly growing demand for MLBB esports experiences across the region.
Representatives from the Egyptian Esports Federation (EESF) also attended the event, further highlighting the increasing institutional support behind esports development in MENA.
MPL MENA records highest viewership in league history
Alongside the success of the new partnership with Qiddiya City, Season 9 also set a new competitive broadcast benchmark.
The league achieved a record 91,542 peak concurrent viewers, according to Esports Charts, making it the most-watched MPL MENA season to date. The milestone reflects rising digital engagement and the growing international attention surrounding the region’s competitive MLBB scene.
Geekay Esports and Team Falcons secure MSC 2026 spots
Competition at the MPL MENA Season 9 Grand Finals also delivered high stakes as Geekay Esports defeated Team Falcons in a tightly contested series.
With the 4-3 victory, Geekay Esports secured direct qualification to the Main Stage of the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the 2026 Esports World Cup, which features a US$3,000,000 prize pool.
Team Falcons will also represent the region, entering through the Wild Card stage with a chance to fight their way into the Main Stage.
Their qualification underscores how the MPL MENA ecosystem is becoming a more consistent pipeline into global MLBB competition.
What the MPL MENA partnership means for regional esports
The new partnership with Qiddiya City comes at a time when Moonton Games is actively expanding MLBB’s global footprint, and MENA is increasingly seen as a key growth region.
Beyond tournaments and viewership records, the collaboration signals a shift toward long-term infrastructure building—focusing on youth development, grassroots esports, and integrated entertainment ecosystems.
According to Moonton, the region is entering a new phase where demand is no longer limited to competitive matches, but extends to immersive events and community-driven experiences that connect gaming with broader youth culture.
A growing role in global MLBB esports
With Season 9 breaking attendance and viewership records, and teams now qualifying for MSC 2026 at the Esports World Cup, MPL MENA’s influence on the global MLBB scene continues to grow.
The partnership with Qiddiya City is expected to accelerate that trajectory further, positioning the region not only as a competitive hub but also as a key pillar in MLBB’s long-term international expansion strategy.
As the ecosystem continues to mature, MENA’s role in shaping future champions—and future esports audiences—looks set to become even more significant.
