The first ever Refugee Team competes at the Arab Esports League 2025 in Jordan
The first ever Refugee Team competes at the Arab Esports League 2025 in Jordan
The refugee team along with his Royal Highness Prince Omar Bin Faisal the Head of Jordan's E-sports federation
For the first time ever, a team of refugee gamers will participate at the Arab Esports League, the region’s premier esport tournament, held from 25 to 26 September in Amman, Jordan.
This initiative comes as UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Arab E-sports Federation (ARESF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the margins of the tournament, marking a milestone in their strategic partnership. The agreement builds on a pledge made by HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, Chairman of the International Esports Federation (IESF) and the Arab E-sports Federation, (ARESF) at the Global Refugee Forum in 2023, where he committed to expanding opportunities for refugees in the digital platforms and the esports ecosystem.
During the tournament, the Refugee Esports Team, composed of three refugee players from Syria and Iraq, will compete alongside top-tier teams from across the Arab world. As host of this year’s tournament, the Jordan Esports Federation provided training, guidance and support to the team in the lead-up to the event.
Commenting on the signing of the MOU, Taleb Salhab, UNHCR’s Chief of Private Sector Partnerships in MENA said: “The Refugee Team’s presence in this tournament sends a powerful message of resilience, talent, and opportunity, showcasing how esports can serve as a platform for inclusion and hope for refugees.” He added: “This is more than just a game. It’s a gateway to opportunity, dignity, and community for young refugees who can utilize their skills and potentially build a livelihood and a career doing something they enjoy.”
On her part, Rawan Albutairi, Secretary General of the Arab Esports Federation, said: “Welcoming a refugee team into the Arab League for the very first time is a historic and deeply meaningful milestone. Beyond competition, esports is a powerful platform for unity, inclusion and hope. As the Arab Esports Federation, we see this as part of our responsibility to ensure that esports is for everyone and that every player, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to participate. By embracing diversity and giving space for voices that are often unheard, we reaffirm our belief that esports can go beyond entertainment to play a real role in making the world a better, more compassionate place.”
In 2021, UNHCR signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), paving the way for its participation as a beneficiary in the Gamers Without Borders tournaments in 2022 and 2023. This partnership helped raise US $2.8 million in support of refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The launch of the first-ever refugee esports team in collaboration with the Arab E-sports Federation, marks a significant milestone in UNHCR’s ongoing efforts to harness the power of gaming for social impact—particularly among displaced youth and marginalized communities. By enabling refugee gamers to compete in an official Esports tournament for the first time, this initiative encourages inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity within the global gaming ecosystem.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
In Dubai:
Khaled Kabbara
Communications Officer- GCC Countries
+971 50 641 0868
[email protected]
In Amman:
Yousef Taha
Communications Officer - Spokesperson
+ 962 788 04 34 08
[email protected]
