Dec 09, 2025

First Place Achievement in National Gaming Initiative

A multidisciplinary student team from KFUPM achieved first place at the PUBG Mobile Hackathon competition on December 6, 2026, in Riyadh. The national initiative, launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), brought together students from eight leading Saudi universities, aiming to transform young talent from digital content consumers into creators and developers in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

The winning team comprised Ahmed Saad Al-Huwaidi (Management Information Systems), Faisal Al-Subaie (Industrial Engineering), Yazan Hussein (Materials Science and Engineering), and Nawaf Al-Otaibi (Control and Instrumentation Engineering). Representing diverse academic backgrounds, the group collaborated to design an immersive interactive game map within PUBG Mobile’s World of Wonders (WoW) mode.

Their winning project featured a custom-built map inspired by iconic Saudi landmarks and heritage sites, including AlUla, Al-Masmak Fortress, and other historical worlds. The map creatively blended cultural identity with future ambition.

Despite significant time constraints, the team successfully delivered the final map under pressure. Members were concurrently involved in organizing Dhahran Games Expo 2025, leaving them with only a short window to travel to Riyadh and finalize development. Through effective task distribution, disciplined time management, and full utilization of available tools, the team overcame these challenges to secure first place.

Participation was driven by a desire to develop technical and creative skills, highlight Saudi identity, and build a strong professional portfolio, the team is actively working to further develop the winning map in preparation for its official adoption as a core playable map within the WoW mode.

The achievement reflects the growing role of university talent in supporting the Kingdom’s gaming and esports ecosystem. The team encourages fellow students to rethink gaming as a space for innovation and production, emphasizing that success lies in translating national ambitions into interactive digital experiences that can reach global audiences.