Saudi Arabia will host ESL Pro League Season 25 (S25) from March 6 to 14, 2027, in what is being seen as a major step for global esports. This will be the first time the Pro League, one of the most traditional competitions in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), is held in Saudi Arabia.
The decision is closely linked to the ownership of ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), which runs the league. In 2022, EFG was acquired by the Saudi Savvy Games Group in a deal worth around $1.5 billion, including about $1.05 billion for ESL and $500 million for FACEIT.
While ESL has organised Counter-Strike events in the country before, including those linked to the Esports World Cup (EWC), this will be the first time a full Pro League season is staged there. Except for the Season 5, which was hosted in São Paulo, Brazil, and the Seasons 2, 5, and 7 in the United States, the Pro League was mainly kept within Europe.
Recently, Katowice, Poland was announced as the host for the Season 24, building on the city’s tradition with esports and filling a gap left by the relocation of EFG’s Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) CS2 circuit to Kraków.
The total prize pool for Season 25 will be $1.25 million, which is $250,000 higher than the previous season. A much larger portion, $950,000, will go to clubs and organisations, with the winning team’s organisation receiving $240,000 and the runner-up getting $160,000.
Looking beyond this single event, ESL has committed at least $11.45 million for the 2027 Pro Tour season. This includes prize money, club rewards, and incentives. A key part of this is an expanded Annual Club Incentive program, which will now reward teams not only on performance but also on how many viewers they attract across the entire tournament.
Investing in esports events is a major strategy employed by the country towards economic development and diversification. In an interview with The Esports Radar in 2025, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud highlighted how the investment is meant to create jobs, develop talent, and contribute to a target of about $13 billion in economic impact by 2030.
The event is expected to be played fully on LAN, with playoffs held in front of a live audience. While the exact venue has not yet been confirmed, it is likely to be in Riyadh, where most major esports events in the country have taken place and where EFG has already invested in production hubs and facilities.
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