MOONTON Games and Qiddiya Investment Company are expanding their partnership with a five-year hosting agreement that will make Qiddiya City the home of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Middle East and North Africa (MPL MENA) Grand Finals from 2027. The agreement establishes a long-term destination for the league's flagship event, reinforcing both organisations' ambitions to develop a sustainable esports ecosystem in MENA.
The agreement builds on the five-year partnership announced at the MPL MENA Season 9 Grand Finals, when Qiddiya City became the league's Official Partner. The latest commitment takes the collaboration beyond sponsorship and fan engagement, providing continuity for the league's development and supporting Qiddiya City's ambition to become a global gaming and esports destination.
The announcement follows the conclusion of MPL MENA Season 10, where Team Falcons claimed their third league title after defeating Titan Esports Club 4–2 in the Grand Finals. Both teams will represent MENA at the M8 World Championship in January 2027, as the region continues to strengthen its presence in international MLBB Esports.
Qiddiya City strengthens MENA's esports ambitions
As the world's first city built for play, Qiddiya City is developing an integrated destination for entertainment, sports, and culture, with gaming and esports central to its vision. The MPL MENA Grand Finals will become a recurring fixture in Qiddiya City's event calendar, complementing the development of its dedicated Gaming and Esports District.
With the hosting agreement running beyond 2030, the partnership reflects a commitment to esports development that extends beyond individual events and near-term milestones. A consistent home for the Grand Finals creates opportunities to build stronger connections with fans, establish lasting event traditions, and support the next generation of regional esports talent.
The expanded collaboration builds on existing initiatives spanning broadcast integrations, onsite fan experiences, and community engagement. Together, these efforts reflect a broader ambition to strengthen the foundations of professional esports and create sustainable opportunities across MENA's gaming ecosystem.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, said, "Our expanded partnership with Qiddiya City gives MPL MENA a long-term home and a stronger foundation to grow the league, elevate fan experiences, and nurture regional talent. As we celebrate MPL MENA's tenth season, Team Falcons' success reflects the region's growing competitive strength. Beyond developing champions, our ambition is to build an ecosystem that empowers young talent to excel in their chosen paths and become role models who inspire the next generation."
Team Falcons embody this ambition. Beyond their achievements in professional esports, several players are pursuing studies in fields such as medicine and engineering. Their journeys demonstrate that success in esports can go hand in hand with academic and personal aspirations, setting an example for the next generation that excellence extends beyond competition.
MENA's road to the M8 World Championship
After falling 0–2 behind in the Grand Final, Team Falcons completed a comeback with four consecutive game wins to secure their third title. The victory also earned them the M8 Golden Ticket, a commemorative pass inspired by a ship's boarding pass that symbolises their journey to Istanbul—where the M Series will make its historic European debut—and the opportunity to compete for MLBB Esports' highest honour. Season 10 runners-up Titan Esports Club secured a place at the M8 World Championship, qualifying for the Wild Card in Bangkok, Thailand.
For the first time, the M8 will span two continents, with a record 10 teams competing in the Wild Card for three remaining spots in the 16-team Main Stage in Istanbul, Türkiye. There, the world's leading MLBB teams will compete for the World Championship title and a share of the US$1 million prize pool.
MENA's rise on the world stage
Team Falcons' latest victory builds on their international performance at the 2026 MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) in Paris, where they advanced through the Wild Card to join Geekay Esports in the Main Stage. It marked the first time MENA secured a second MSC Main Stage berth through international qualification, highlighting the region's growing competitiveness on the global stage.
The achievement comes as MLBB celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since its launch in 2016, the game has recorded over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million Monthly Active Users (MAU) worldwide. Earlier this year, the M7 World Championship attracted over 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), becoming the world's most-watched mobile esports tournament by peak viewership, according to Esports Charts.
MLBB also made its debut as an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, while the MSC and MLBB Women's International (MWI) made their European debuts in Paris. The upcoming M8 World Championship in Istanbul will extend that international expansion, bringing the M Series to Europe for the first time.
