Mother of the Nation Festival 2019 Hosting Region’s Largest Multi-game

• Festival invites visitors to get up close and personal with the world of gaming in the Esports Arena
• The arena features an array of tournaments with appearances from top international players
• Highlights of the exciting schedule include the region’s first-ever international Fortnite event

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 13 March 2019: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced details of the packed schedule of activities that will take place at the dedicated Esports Arena during the Mother of the Nation Festival 2019. Housed within the Festival’s Progress Zone, the Arena provides a state-of-the-art, purpose-built venue for the largest multi-game Esports tournament to be held in the region to date, with prizes totalling more than AED 187,000 on offer for the winners.

The Festival has joined forces with MET Events, Asia’s leading Esports event organiser, to bring a unique gaming experience to Abu Dhabi. Visitors have the opportunity to participate in daily tournaments with top professional players and influencers competing live on stage on several popular games across PC, console and mobile platforms, including Fortnite, CS:GO, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, FIFA 19, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Street Fighter V. This will be the first time the Middle East has hosted an international Fortnite event, making it an unmissable occasion for dedicated followers of the popular game franchise, which boasts more than 200 million registered players worldwide.

“We are delighted to unveil details of the Mother of the Nation Festival’s dedicated Esports Arena, which creates an unparalleled experience for gaming enthusiasts in the UAE,” said Ameera Al Mazrouei, Festivals Development Unit Head at DCT Abu Dhabi. “The Arena represents an outstanding addition to our Progress Zone, and reflects the Festival’s ambition to deliver inclusive attractions that appeal to a wide range of age groups with diverse interests. We look forward to providing our visitors with a cutting-edge entertainment experience that will set new standards for Esports in the region by bringing some of the world’s most celebrated players to Abu Dhabi.”

Participants have the chance to win exciting prizes and be crowned local champions, as well as opportunities to play with and against Esports professionals and influencers on the big stage. The Festival’s opening day featured a special appearance from regional Esports star Mosaad ‘Msdossary’ Aldossary, when fans had the opportunity to attend a signing session. The 18-year-old Saudi’s highly successful Esports career has seen him emerge as the winner of the FIFA eWorld Cup 2019, and he was crowned ‘Console Player of the Year’ at the Esports Awards 2018.

The main Esports stage is currently hosting show matches between professional players, as well as tournament finals. Highlights include a Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament on 15 March. From 20-21 March, the best Street Fighter V players from the public will have a chance to face off against UAE pros Amjad ‘AngryBird’ Alshalabi and Adel ‘BigBird’ Anouche live on stage. CS:GO fans are in for a treat on 22 March, when the Festival welcomes two of the world’s top players, Adil ‘ScreaM’ Benrlitom and Vincent 'Happy' Schopenhauer. The Esports stars will take part in a show match and challenge the skills of Festival-goers. The event culminates with the final of the region’s first international Fortnite tournament at 8pm on 22 March, featuring several pro players and influencers including Johann ‘Mushway’ Cyr and Klaivert ‘Teeqzy’ Dervishi, together with the Festival’s best local players.

The Esports Arena features 14 PS4s, 30 PCs, 15 consoles, 16 mobile gaming stations and eight Nintendo switches. Visitors can choose to play for fun in the free-to-play area, or get involved in several daily tournaments, where they can test their skills against up to 250 participants each day. Registration for the qualifying rounds can be completed onsite.

The main Esports stage will host show matches between professional players, as well as tournament finals. More than AED 187,000 total prize money is available for participants, including AED 55,000 in the daily activities for visitors. Other prizes include AED 50,000 in the Fortnite tournament, AED 25,000 for FIFA 19, AED 25,000 for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, AED 25,000 for PUBG Mobile, and AED 7,345 for CS:GO. Gaming fans who are unable to attend the event in person can enjoy all the action across various live streaming broadcasts.

The Mother of the Nation Festival takes place at the Abu Dhabi Corniche from 12 - 23 March 2019, and is open from 4pm - 12am (Sunday to Wednesday) and 2pm - 12am (Thursday to Saturday). The Festival showcases the UAE’s growth as a progressive and forward-thinking nation, in line with the national Year of Tolerance initiative. The family-friendly event offers something for everyone, including a range of attractions to see, do and experience for all ages. Visitors can enjoy more than 120 world-class performances, over 80 delectable dining experiences and over 35 retail outlets, together with a packed schedule of workshops and events designed to uplift the community.

Tickets can be purchased online by visiting 800tickets.com or motn.ae. Entry tickets are priced at AED 25 per adult and AED 20 for kids between 6 and 12 years of age. A Festival Family Pass is also available (2 adults + 2 children + 2 fast track passes) for AED 290. Entry is free of charge for senior citizens and visitors (60 years and above), children below 6 years of age, people of determination, and Cirque du Soleil Bazzar ticket holders.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank customers can enjoy 40% discount when booking using their ADIB cards across all categories of entry tickets.

Cirque du Soleil is performing for the very first time in Abu Dhabi with its new show, Cirque du Soleil Bazzar. Presented by Alchemy Project in association with the Mother of the Nation Festival, the show takes place on Yas Island until 16 March 2019. Tickets are available from tixbox.com, and all ticketholders can enjoy free entry to the Mother of the Nation Festival.

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About The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike.  The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment.  Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.  The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage.  A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

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