Gamers from around the world are rallying to join the fight against the coronavirus pandemic by battling it out in a $10 million (Dh36.7m) eSports tournament.
The seven-week event, dubbed Gamers Without Borders by Saudi, starts on Friday, April 24, and is open worldwide to gamers of all skill levels.
Six tournaments will be held each week on an amateur level. The best-performing amateurs will then get to compete with professionals players on an elite level. Tournaments will take place across 14 of the most popular video games, including Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Fifa.
Winners will pick one of the 12 listed charity groups to donate to, while sponsorship revenue generated during the event will also be contributed.
By the time the tournaments wraps up on Sunday, June 7, the $10m prize fund will be donated to charities fighting against the pandemic, including the World Health Organisation Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Gamers Without Borders by Saudi was created by the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports (Safeis) in partnership with Electronic Sports League (ESL), the world's largest eSports company. The event will be streamed live to watch.
The partnership with ESL will help provide a broadcast feed in eight different languages, including Arabic, English, Spanish and Mandarin for a global experience reaching worldwide. The broadcast will also include a fundraiser for viewers to directly donate to the charity of their choice from the 12 selected.
Saudi's response to the global pandemic
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, president of Safeis, says the event is part of Saudi Arabia's response to the global health crisis, and that Gamers Without Borders is meant to instil a sense of global unity during these uncertain times.
"It's important that we welcome everyone to contribute to the fight against Covid-19. The mass participation side of the initiative offers an opportunity for a wider range of people to take part and also directly donate if they wish. Here we are additionally offering over $2m prize pool of value in kind giveaways to the winners and our visitors on the stream," he says.
With much of the world in lockdown, and many feeling helpless in response, eSports has never been more relevant, he says, adding that “now is the time for all gamers to join together and contribute to the cause.”
"It's an unprecedented phenomenon to have much of the world in lockdown and disconnected," says Prince Faisal. "That's why eSports is more important today than ever in connecting people and communities. And through Gamers Without Borders, we want to show the positive impact it can have beyond just entertainment."
The Saudi prince, who was appointed president of Safeis and the Arab eSports Federation in 2017, has organised a number of regional tournaments in the last two years.
In 2018, Prince Faisal managed the Saudi national team to victory after they won first place in the Tekken 7 tournament at the International eSports Federation World Championship in Taiwan.
“ESport is massive in the Middle East and in Saudi specifically. They compete in global competitions. We also know that in the region there are many hidden champions in eSports. Our goal is to give these hidden champions a chance to shine.”
Prince Faisal is also a gamer at heart. "I grew up playing Madden Football," he says, adding that he was known among friends as being an expert at the game. Nowadays, he enjoys games like Assassin's Creed, which he believes are more about good storytelling.
He also encourages UAE gamers to take part in the initiative, and says: "We'd love to see as many gamers in the UAE and all over the world join our initiative. Come watch the best, game with the world, and donate for the fight against Covid-19."
To register and find out more about Gamers Without Borders by Saudi, visit www.gamerswithoutborders.com
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
