The world’s first dedicated esports space inside an Olympic museum opens in Doha, introducing a national esports development hub built on an accessibility-first, non-profit model and offering the lowest-cost gaming sessions in the country

Doha, Qatar — 20 May 2026 — Qatar Museums (QM), Media City Qatar, and SNRG today officially unveiled the 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar, a permanent, fully accessible esports development hub housed inside the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM). The opening makes QOSM the first Olympic Museum in the world to feature a dedicated esports space, marking a significant milestone for Qatar's sporting and digital cultural landscape.

The launch of the 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar reflects a strategic collaboration between Qatar Museums and Media City Qatar to support the future growth of esports in Qatar. The initiative brings together two complementary perspectives; Qatar Museums’ commitment  to sport, culture and youth development through the 321 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and  Media City Qatar’s focus on advancingthe country's growing media, content, and digital business ecosystem. Together, the organisations have established the lounge as a long-term institutionally-backed platform for esports development in Qatar.

Mr Abdulla Yousef Al Mulla, Director of 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, said:

"The 321 Esports Lounge is a natural extension of what the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum was always meant to be — a living institution that speaks to the next generation in their own language. Esports is not a departure from our mission; it is an expression of it. Sport has always evolved, and our role at Qatar Museums is to ensure that our spaces evolve with it. By making this the most accessible gaming destination in Qatar, we are opening our doors to an entirely new community of young people and giving them a permanent home inside one of the country's great cultural institutions."

Mr Hamad Omar A. Al-Mannai, Chief Executive Officer of Media City Qatar, said:

"Gaming and esports are becoming an increasingly important part of the global media landscape, and for Media City Qatar, this is a strategic key priority area that sits at the intersection of media, content, and technology. With the Middle East esports market projected to reach $9.57 billion by 2030 and the region expected to record the fastest growth globally at a 12.9% CAGR, we see a clear opportunity for Qatar to play a meaningful role in shaping the sector’s future. The 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar reflects that ambition by creating an accessible space where the next generation of digital creators and players can experiment, connect, and grow."

Bringing the Lounge to life on the ground is a multi-year strategic agreement between Qatar Museums and SNRG. Under the agreement, SNRG conceived, developed, and curated the full project from concept to execution, and holds ongoing responsibility for the Lounge's day-to-day operations and long-term development. The agreement is a meaningful recognition of SNRG's role in shaping Qatar's esports landscape.

Mr Ibrahim Samha, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SNRG, said:

"As a leading esports company in Qatar, SNRG is dedicated to raising the standard of esports and propelling the country to the forefront of the global scene. The 321 Esports Lounge is one of the most defining things we have built in that mission, a home for the community where anyone can walk in, play, learn, and grow. Our role goes beyond launching a venue, it is to operate and grow a national platform that nurtures local talent and creates real opportunities for players across Qatar. Partnering with Qatar Museums and standing alongside Media City Qatar to bring this to life is a defining moment for SNRG, and a statement of intent for the sector we are committed to building."

The 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar has been designed to serve everyone under one roof, from first-time players walking in for a casual session to national athletes preparing for competition. It operates on an accessibility-first, non-profit model, offering the most affordable gaming sessions available anywhere in Qatar, and will remain open and activated year-round with a continuous calendar of casual sessions, competitive tournaments, educational workshops, and structured training programmes.

The lounge features 12 high-end PC stations representing the most advanced gaming setups publicly accessible in Qatar, 5 console stations equipped with PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, a professional broadcast station for live streaming and content creation, and a complimentary viewing area open to all museum visitors and spectators.

Programming spans walk-in casual gaming sessions with no booking required, competitive tournaments across multiple game titles with cash prizes, classroom-style gamified educational workshops, and structured training courses designed to bridge the gap between casual play and competitive readiness.

The 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar is open now. To view the full programming calendar or learn more, visit https://321qosm.org.qa/en/.

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Media City Qatar showcased the trophies of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 ^TM and FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025^TM as part of its ongoing partnership with both tournaments. The event, held on Monday, 27 October 2025, at Media City Qatar’s headquarters in Msheireb Downtown Doha, brought together the organization’s board members, employees, licensed companies, and the public to celebrate Qatar’s growing role in sports media and its position as a global hub for world-class coverage.

The celebration brought together Media City Qatar’s VIP guests, employees, licensed companies, and their families, who gathered to view the trophies up close and commemorate the occasion.  They took photos and engaged with the display, before the wider public was invited to experience the trophies firsthand and capture memorable moments.

Guests also enjoyed football-themed activities including a foosball table, 360° booth, speed kick challenge, and mini football setup, creating a fun and energetic atmosphere that reflected the spirit of the tournaments.

Media City Qatar is supporting three major tournaments taking place later this year: the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 ^TM (3–27 November), the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 ^TM (1–18 December), and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 ^TM (10–17 December).

With an ecosystem of over 300 licensed companies, Media City Qatar continues to foster creativity and collaboration in alignment with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. This initiative reaffirmed Media City Qatar’s commitment to advancing sports media and supporting Qatar’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation and world-class coverage.

2025 ^TM

Media City Qatar and Microsoft Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance digital innovation in Qatar’s media and creative technology sectors. The agreement, formalized during Day 2 of the 2025 ‘Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg’, outlines a shared vision to strengthen media entrepreneurship and drive collaboration on training, mentorship, and startup advancement.

The collaboration will leverage the upcoming strategic initiative of Media City Qatar, “Media Innovation Lab,” to enable technology access, deliver upskilling and training programs, and provide mentorship opportunities and support for startups and SMEs. It also includes cooperation on innovation challenges, joint research and development (R&D) initiatives, and co-branded events aimed at accelerating Qatar’s creative economy.

In addition, Microsoft Qatar will support the development of Media City Qatar’s unified digital platform and explore further opportunities to enable local media startups through shared events, marketing campaigns, and public relations activities.

Eng. Jassim Mohamed Al Khori, CEO of Media City Qatar, said: "This collaboration with Microsoft reflects our shared belief in the power of technology to shape what comes next for the media sector. At Media City Qatar, we are committed to supporting the next generation of media and technology talent through innovation, training, and entrepreneurship. Signing this MoU during the 2025 'Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg,' where technology is one of this year's key pillars, underscores our role in advancing a creative and knowledge-based economy aligned with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030."

Lana Khalaf, Country Manager of Microsoft Qatar, stated: “We are excited to partner with Media City Qatar in developing a future-ready media ecosystem. As technology advances rapidly, we are keen to support in enabling human talent and industry transformation. This collaboration aims to build that talent, support startups, and invest in skills and technology to drive the creative economy forward."

Media City Qatar, as the official partner of the Forum, continues to forge high-impact global partnerships that accelerate growth across the local media and technology sectors. In 2023, it signed a multi-year agreement with Bloomberg Media to continue hosting the ‘Qatar Economic Forum’ through 2027, supporting its growth as a global platform for innovation and strategic dialogue.

Media City Qatar (MCQ) presented their “Global Stories, Local Lens” activation at a special event in Venice, Italy held in partnership with Doha Film Institute. The occasion highlights Qatar’s emerging role as a hub for fostering intercultural understanding and creative collaboration through media.

During the function, MCQ unveiled "The Bridge," a unique intercultural mask art installation created by Qatari artist Fatma Al Shebani and Italian artist Nicolò Galasso. “The Bridge” symbolizes the fusion of the traditional Venetian ‘carnival’ mask and the Qatari ‘battoulah’. It reflects media, film, and art’s universal appeal and ability to tell stories through the perspective of its teller, serving as an invitation to explore the world's rich cultures. The artistic creation embodies the core concept of bridging cultures and draws inspiration from both Venice and Doha.

Speaking to the power of creative industries to connect cultures, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of MCQ, emphasized the importance of such cultural collaborations: "This activation is a conversation starter. It seeks to spark curiosity about the value we can offer to the growing number of international media companies and professionals that recognize the potential of the Arab World and are interested in expanding into the Middle East. Our goal is to forge international partnerships and bridge cultures while promoting Qatar as a top destination for creators."

The event underscores deepening cultural ties with Italy, and efforts by both organisations to position Qatar as a premier destination for content creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and other creative talents worldwide.

Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Doha Film Institute, said: “The power of storytelling lies in its ability to bridge cultures and inspire a deeper reflection of our shared human values. Doha Film Institute has long championed the use of visual arts to bring communities together, offering authentic and inspiring stories that promote empathy and intercultural understanding. Arab cinema is a dynamic and essential part of the global film landscape, known for its rich storytelling, cultural depth, and exploration of complex social issues. As the Venice Film Festival continues to honour Arab filmmakers, it reinforces the importance of diverse voices in cinema and underscores the genuine value of representation in the arts. We are proud to support 12 projects from the region at this year’s Festival that not only allows us to engage international audiences but also affirms that our perspectives truly enrich the world of cinema.”

As an emerging global media hub, MCQ provides a supportive regulatory landscape, state-of-the-art business facilities, and attractive incentive schemes to ensure the success of emerging media ventures in Qatar. This multifaceted strategy is crucial for the sustained growth and development of the country’s various creative industries—including: broadcasting, traditional and digital news, gaming, user-generated content, AI, and other advanced technologies.

Doha Film Institute is committed to nurturing and empowering a new generation of storytellers who are contributing to the development of sustainable creative industries in the Middle East region and beyond. Over the past 15 years, DFI has facilitated exchange of filmmaking resources and expert collaboration between nations and cultures, thereby strengthening the Arab region’s capability to master the world’s most powerful medium and increase its influence in reshaping the world.