Nigma Galaxy and Aldar partner to broaden the reach of esports in Abu Dhabi

• Aldar will become the official real estate and educational partner of Nigma Galaxy
• Aldar will develop a bespoke esports training facility with Nigma Galaxy at Yas Mall as well as gaming facilities within its communities
• The partnership will create new grassroots esports opportunities for the region, through an academy where the top players can earn internships with Nigma Galaxy, as well as after school esports workshops across the UAE

Abu Dhabi, 15 December 2022: Nigma Galaxy, the most successful esports organisation in MENA, dedicated to developing talent and industry infrastructure, is pleased to announce a multi-year partnership with Aldar, the leading real estate developer and manager in Abu Dhabi, to enhance the UAE’s passionate gaming and esports communities through talent development and community engagement.

Tapping into its own mission to create engaged communities across Abu Dhabi, Aldar will work with Nigma Galaxy to explore the inclusion of gaming spaces within its upcoming residential communities, while also developing a Nigma Galaxy esports training facility for players. At the facility, Nigma Galaxy will provide a range of training programmes and internship opportunities to develop the next generation of gaming and esports talent. The opportunities will span the entirety of gaming and esports, from nurturing up-and-coming competitive gamers through to providing insight on how to run a business within the gaming industry. Additionally, Nigma Galaxy will help to establish a series of after school esports workshops at Aldar Education schools across the UAE.

Aldar will enable Nigma Galaxy to access its full real estate portfolio, including spaces to host esports competitions and player training facilities in Yas Mall and Saadiyat Grove once the development is complete. Aldar will also provide accommodation options for Nigma Galaxy players, while Aldar’s logo will also be featured across all Nigma Galaxy jerseys.

Finally, Nigma Galaxy has produced a unique in-game activation within Minecraft, bringing Aldar’s flagship Saadiyat Grove development to life in the game. Players will be able to design their own properties using a bespoke ‘block library’ aligned to the design philosophy and materials used in real life. They will also compete to design esports experiences, such as parkour courses, inside the Minecraft version of Aldar assets.

“This collaboration offers tremendous value on both sides – Aldar is a brand that has deep ties with its communities across Abu Dhabi, and for Nigma Galaxy, it is important we continually look at how we can further support young people,” said Mohamed Morad, Co-Founder of Nigma Galaxy. “This partnership taps into the growing aspirations of the region. We are excited about the creative and educational potential behind the partnership. Not only are we able to work with Aldar to help shape facilities and initiatives young people will find useful but we’re able to create innovative ways to engage with audiences. The in-game activation with Minecraft is a fantastic way to merge our two worlds and really cemented why Aldar is the right partner for us.”

Christoph Timm, Co-Founder of Nigma Galaxy commented: “Together we have been able to pool our resources and knowledge to create completely new grassroots esports opportunities for young people. We are also able to offer creative ways for fans to engage with the Aldar brand through an in-game activation. Aldar provides us with endless opportunities thanks to its network and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to build a much stronger ecosystem with the team’s support.”

Rashed Al Omaira, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldar Development, added: “Central to Aldar’s proposition is the creation of communities, whether through our residential developments, our retail and leisure assets, or our network of schools across the country. The significance of this partnership is two-fold; by collaborating with Nigma Galaxy, we are able to facilitate the development of Abu Dhabi’s passionate community of gaming and esports enthusiasts through events and talent development programmes, and crucially, it also helps us create impact amongst the country’s youth. We look forward to actively contributing to the development of the esports industry in the region, unlocking the potential of homegrown talent to compete on the global stage.”

This is the latest partnership that Nigma Galaxy has established with a leading Abu Dhabi entity. In 2020 Nigma Galaxy signed an agreement with Etihad Airways to offer players a premium experience when they travel to ensure they arrive relaxed and energised ahead of a tournament.

About Aldar

Aldar Properties PJSC is the leading real estate developer and manager in the UAE with a diversified and sustainable operating model centered around two core businesses: Aldar Development and Aldar Investment.

Aldar Development is a master developer of integrated, liveable, and thriving communities across Abu Dhabi’s most desirable destinations, including Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Raha, and Reem Island. It is responsible for developing Aldar’s c. 69 million sqm land bank and includes three businesses: Aldar Projects, which is Aldar’s dedicated project delivery arm and the manager of its fee-based development management business; Aldar Ventures, which incubates and nurtures new business opportunities and innovation areas; and Aldar Egypt, the platform focused on developing mixed-use communities in Egypt.

Aldar Investment houses Aldar’s core asset management business comprising over AED 30 billion portfolio of investment grade and income-generating real estate assets diversified across retail, residential, commercial, hospitality, and logistics segments. Aldar Logistics owns a 70% stake in Abu Dhabi Business Hub which owns a strategically located warehousing, industrial, and office complex in Industrial City Abu Dhabi with a total net lettable area of c. 166,000 sqm. Aldar Investment also manages three core platforms: Aldar Education, Aldar Estates, and Aldar Hospitality and Leisure. Aldar Education includes Aldar’s entire educational portfolio, with almost 33,000 students across 28 operated and managed schools, and a growing network of 3,000 educators from over 100 nationalities, offering a wide range of curriculum and ancillary services such as a Teacher Training Academy. Aldar Estates consolidates Aldar’s Retail Operations alongside existing Residential and Commercial real estate operations within Provis and will further include Community Management under one integrated property management platform. Aldar Hospitality and Leisure looks after Aldar’s portfolio of hotel and leisure assets, which are anchored around Yas Island and Saadiyat, in addition to Ras Al Khaimah. It includes Aldar’s portfolio of 13 hotels, comprising over 4,250 hotel keys and managing operations across golf courses, beach clubs, and marinas.

Aldar’s shares are traded on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (Stock quote: ALDAR:UH), and is a profitable, cash-generative business that provides recurring revenues, and benefits from a diverse and supportive shareholder base. Aldar operates according to high standards of corporate governance and is committed to operating a long-term and sustainable business in order to provide ongoing value for its shareholders.

Aldar is driven by a vision to be a leading real estate developer and manager in the region by playing a key role in the development of quality, comfortable, desirable destinations that people can live in, work at and visit.

For more information on Aldar please visit www.aldar.com or follow us on:

About Nigma Galaxy

Nigma Galaxy was founded in 2021 and is the esports team division of the world’s fastest growing gaming and lifestyle organisation from the MENA region with a global reach, Galaxy Racer. The division features an impressive roster of seven esports teams including League of Legends, Dota 2, CS:GO, Wildrift, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Nigma Galaxy is a standalone entity that is helping build esports infrastructure and supporting local talent in the region.

Combining the experience, talent and resources from two of the most renowned gaming and esports brands in MENA and with an impressive global reach, Nigma Galaxy is already one of the biggest esports organisations in the world from the region, with its sights set on becoming the strongest competitive gaming roster globally.

Nigma Galaxy website: www.nigmagalaxy.com