True Gamers has launched four new gaming café and esports venues in Riyadh, marking its first multi-location expansion into Saudi Arabia. The agreement, signed on June 23rd at Dubai Internet City, appoints CRIT Gaming Saudi—led by Ilya Yuryev—as True Gamers’ official operator and representative in the Kingdom.
This expansion follows True Gamers’ earlier franchise deal in Mecca, where a flagship gaming club is under development. Founded in 2022, True Gamers currently operates 15 venues across the UAE and is expanding into Morocco, Jordan, France, and Germany. The company hosts multiple weekly esports tournaments and partners with global brands like Sony and LG, including initiatives like eQueens Villa, the Arab world’s first women-only gaming hub.
Co-founder Vlad Belyanin highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ambitious and youthful gaming market, emphasizing the company’s aim to build authentic local spaces tailored to the community. This move aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which targets over $13 billion in investment to transform the Kingdom into a global gaming hub, creating 39,000 jobs and adding more than $12 billion to GDP through the games and esports industry.
