Amman, June 2, 2025 – Zain Jordan signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and the University of Jordan to establish the first specialized center for esports and game development at the University of Jordan Academy, located within the university campus. This strategic move, the first of its kind among Jordanian universities, aims to empower Jordanian youth and foster a culture of digital innovation within higher education.
The agreement was signed today at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship headquarters in the presence of H.E. Minister Sami Samara, Zain Jordan CEO Fahad Al-Jasim, and President of the University of Jordan Prof. Dr. Nathir Obeidat, along with other stakeholders.
This collaboration represents a progressive model of partnership between the public and private sectors and academic institutions, with joint efforts focused on creating a fully integrated esports and game development center. The center will be equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and professional-grade facilities, making it the first of its kind within Jordanian universities. This aligns with national efforts to implement the Economic Modernization Vision, which recognizes esports as a key pillar of the future economy.
H.E. Minister Samara stated that the agreement reflects the goals of the Jordanian Strategy for Esports and Game Development (2023–2027) and its implementation plan, which aims to establish training and qualification centers for esports across the Kingdom’s regions. He added, “We began executing this vision by launching the first center at The Arc – King Hussein Business Park, and are currently working on two more centers in Irbid and Aqaba, in addition to one in Zarqa. The creation of this new center at the University of Jordan is a major step toward integrating esports and game development into the academic environment, promoting education and scientific research in this emerging field.”
He emphasized that this partnership offers a platform for discovering and nurturing young talents while enabling students across disciplines to acquire competitive digital skills aligned with global trends. The initiative also supports entrepreneurship and opens new economic opportunities for Jordanian youth in game development, digital broadcasting, and esports arbitration.
Fahad Al-Jasim, CEO of Zain Jordan, expressed his pride in this landmark initiative, which highlights Zain’s ongoing commitment to empowering Jordanian youth. “This center is a continuation of our strategic partnership with the Ministry and the University of Jordan. Through combined efforts, we aim to serve Jordan’s modernization journey by providing advanced tools and technologies that enhance youth capabilities in the rapidly growing esports sector and future technologies,” he said.
He added that the new center will leverage Zain’s extensive experience through its Zain Esports (Zain Esports Jo) platform, launched in 2020, which has since become one of the region’s largest gaming communities. Zain has organized hundreds of local and regional tournaments, attracting thousands of players, developers, and enthusiasts across Jordan, reflecting the company’s dedication to supporting this promising industry.
Prof. Dr. Nathir Obeidat, President of the University of Jordan, remarked, “We are proud of this fruitful partnership with the Ministry and Zain. We see this as a significant development that bridges academic education and practical application. We’ve recruited specialists for the King Abdullah II School of Information Technology outside the standard hiring process, to match student specialization needs and reflect the importance of these modern technologies in building real-world capabilities.”
He added, “There’s an urgent need to integrate digital production concepts into curricula, moving beyond pure academics toward a learning environment that hones student skills and expands their horizons. The new center enables students to develop their own video games, aligning with our vision for leadership and innovation.”
He concluded by commending the government’s digital transformation efforts and praised Zain and other national companies for their vital contributions to advancing Jordan’s technology and digital economy sectors.
Zain will utilize the new center to host esports tournaments and events, as well as to organize workshops and training sessions on game development and digital content creation. The center will also be linked to Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC), giving students access to a broad network of experts and enhancing their engagement with Jordan’s innovation ecosystem.
Moreover, Zain will provide the center with a high-speed wired and wireless internet (WiFi) connection, free of charge, for use by center visitors. Purpose-built spaces will offer students interactive experiences and opportunities to grow their technical and creative skills under expert supervision and within a fully regulated academic environment.
The center is expected to attract students interested in entrepreneurship and esports, while offering diverse educational and interactive content, and hosting joint tournaments, training programs, and marketing activities—further strengthening the university’s status as a national hub for innovation.