ICYMI: Gaming and Esports is undergoing a reputational change. Women now make up 58% of users in Saudi Arabia, so then why is just a mere fraction of that figure represented in the upper echelons of competitive gaming and historically male-dominated fields like development? Where film and TV create voyeurs, video games create active participants – time for women – in gaming and real life – to be afforded the same opportunities as men.
Ahead, we profile the MENA region’s Esports trailblazers, from pro players to senior managers, who are paving the way for future generations.
Rasha Al-Qahtani
Twitter @rasha_alqahtani
19-year-old Saudi student Rasha Al-Qahtani developed a game feature that can be applied to popular video games like Minecraft to help teens diagnose a generalized anxiety disorder. The project, created while she was part of the national STEM program Mawhib, won her a behavioural science award last year at Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Madiha Naz
Instagram @madixolol
The UAE-based Madiha ‘Madi’ Naz began her esports career in 2020 and was part of the first-ever all-female Middle Eastern esports team. Being known as the first female League of Legends Pro Player in the country, Madi has participated in a range of local and international tournaments. She currently works at Division as a gamer relationship agent to support aspiring gamers in the region.
Lululunaa
Instagram @the_lululunaa
Laila, popularly known as Lululunaa, is a Twitch partner, content creator for Geekay Esports, and a Miss Esports Ambassador. Among her list of accolades, the Moroccan esports player also received the title of Best Female Streamer for 2020 and 2021.
Haya Al Qadi
DGC MEA
As the Global marketing manager for one of the Middle East’s largest esports organizations Galaxy Racer, Haya Al Qadi has been part of creating partnerships, marketing strategies, and campaigns – which includes its partnership with La Liga where professional footballers and gaming influencers can compete in tournaments across the globe.
Najd Fahad
Twitter @Najjd02
Najd Fahad is a notable name in the women’s FIFA tournaments. She previously made headlines when she became the first Saudi woman to win an e-football title at the FISU eSports Challenge’s female tournament in 2020. In another world first, she also bagged the title of the first Saudi woman to win a gold medal at the GCC Games in May.
Mary Gaming
Instagram @maryvalorantt
Maryam ‘Mary Gaming’ Maher is the number one female Fortnite player in the region and the first GCC-based female gamer on the G2 Gozen roster. At only 16, the Bahrain-based esports player (and former Cosmo ME star) is only getting started.
As seen in Cosmo ME’s autumn gaming issue, click here to read more.