Amman, February 16, 2026:
His Royal Highness Prince Omar bin Faisal, President of the Jordan Esports Federation, inaugurated the Zain Academy for Esports and Game Development at the University of Jordan on Monday.
The academy was established under a joint cooperation agreement signed last year between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Zain Jordan, and the University of Jordan.
The launch of this academy represents a step toward supporting and empowering young talents in the fields of esports, game development, and modern digital technologies, while strengthening the presence of the esports sector within the academic environment. This initiative aligns with the Economic Modernization Vision, which classifies the esports sector among the creative industries.
Zain Jordan emphasized that the launch of this academy reflects its continued commitment to investing in the potential of Jordanian youth and supporting emerging digital sectors.
The academy will serve as a comprehensive platform for hosting and organizing local and university esports tournaments, in addition to offering specialized training courses and workshops in game development, digital content creation, live streaming, tournament management, and event organization.
The academy will also be connected to Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC), enabling students to benefit from a wide network of experts and entrepreneurs and enhancing their integration within the Kingdom’s innovation ecosystem.
Zain Jordan stated that the establishment of the academy builds on its ongoing efforts to support the gaming and esports sector, which began in 2020 through its Zain Esports Jo center. The center has served as a hub for gamers, developers, and content creators across the Kingdom and has contributed to strengthening the esports culture and organizing distinguished tournaments at both the local and regional levels.
Zain has provided the academy with advanced digital infrastructure, including high-speed wired and wireless internet services free of charge within the facility, in addition to technical and operational support to ensure an integrated environment that serves students and academy participants, helping them develop their practical skills within a modern educational setting.
The academy features advanced digital infrastructure and professional equipment that meet global standards in esports and game design, providing a comprehensive educational and practical environment that allows students to develop their technical and creative skills and gain hands-on experience in game design and development, digital content creation, live streaming, and tournament management.
During the opening ceremony, Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Samira Al-Zu’bi, representing the Minister, stated that the launch of the academy reflects the objectives of the Jordanian Esports and Gaming Strategy 2023–2027, particularly the establishment of specialized centers within universities to serve students and local communities and raise awareness about this sector.
She added that the academy represents the outcome of cooperation between the ministry, the University of Jordan, and Zain, noting that it has been equipped with advanced technological equipment and digital infrastructure to provide an integrated training environment that contributes to discovering talents and preparing professional players, game developers, and content creators, while supporting their participation in regional and international tournaments and transforming their ideas into exportable digital products.
Al-Zu’bi also emphasized that the ministry is working to build a comprehensive national ecosystem for esports and gaming, which includes training coaches, referees, tournament organizers, team managers, and specialized content creators, in addition to developing regulatory frameworks, strengthening partnerships, and attracting quality investments. These efforts aim to establish Jordan as a regional hub for the esports sector, support the digital economy, and create quality job opportunities for Jordanian youth.
For his part, President of the University of Jordan, Dr. Nathir Obeidat, expressed the university’s pride in this fruitful national partnership, highlighting its importance in achieving effective integration between academic education and practical application.
He added that introducing concepts of digital production within academic curricula helps refine students’ skills and opens new pathways for entrepreneurship and innovation, while praising the government’s efforts to digitize state institutions and the role of national partnerships in supporting the technology and digital economy sectors.
The launch of this academy represents a sustainable model of collaboration between the public sector, private sector, and academic institutions, reinforcing a culture of innovation within universities and contributing to building a comprehensive national ecosystem for the gaming and esports industry based on training, development, and talent cultivation. It also represents a significant addition to the digital infrastructure of the higher education sector by preparing a generation equipped with technical and competitive skills aligned with the requirements of the global digital economy, bridging the gap between theoretical education and practical application, and transforming students’ passion for gaming into professional pathways and productive opportunities that support the national economy.