China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has reportedly won the latest contract to build a major esports arena in Qiddiya City’s Gaming and Esports District near Riyadh, moving the project into its next phase of development.
According to a MEED report, the contract is valued at approximately $700 million. The report indicates the venue is designed to hold more than 5,100 spectators, the building will stand about 52 metres tall and include two basement levels along with four levels above ground. The arena is also planned to include a large video-screen system built for esports broadcasting, with a main LED wall covering close to 39,000 square feet.
On top of that, the area will feature hospitality areas, retail space, gaming zones, and food and beverage facilities, which are intended to keep the venue in use on days when no tournaments are taking place.
However, Qiddiya City has not officially confirmed the contract value, the winning contractor, or any other of the project details.
CSCEC has previous experience with esports venues through its subsidiary, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp, which built the Shanghai International NCC & Esports Center. More broadly, CSCEC and its subsidiaries have built traditional sports stadiums, multi-purpose arenas, gymnasiums, and other large public venues in China and abroad, including facilities for events such as the Universiade and the Asian Games.
This project is one of several esports-related moves by Qiddiya City in 2026. Earlier this year, the company acquired full ownership of the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) when its esports production division, RTS, bought out NODWIN Gaming‘s share in the property. It has also signed a five-year partnership to grow Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) esports, along with an agreement with the Esports Foundation to support its flagship event, the Esports World Cup.
Beyond Saudi Arabia, the broader esports landscape is actively rethinking how physical venues fit into long-term strategy. To explore how projects ranging from London’s multi-sport London Colosseum to new arenas across China fit into the industry’s venue model, read our dedicated breakdown in The Esports Radar’s Heat Map newsletter.
