Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums (QM), Media City Qatar, and SNRG on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, officially unveiled the 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar, a permanent, fully accessible esports development hub housed inside the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM). The opening makes QOSM the first Olympic Museum in the world to feature a dedicated esports space, marking a significant milestone for Qatar's sporting and digital cultural landscape.
The launch of the 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar reflects a strategic collaboration between Qatar Museums and Media City Qatar to support the future growth of esports in Qatar. The initiative brings together two complementary perspectives; Qatar Museums’ commitment to sport, culture and youth development through the 321 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Media City Qatar’s focus on advancingthe country's growing media, content, and digital business ecosystem. Together, the organisations have established the lounge as a long-term institutionally-backed platform for esports development in Qatar.
Director of 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum Abdulla Yousef Al Mulla said: "The 321 Esports Lounge is a natural extension of what the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum was always meant to be — a living institution that speaks to the next generation in their own language. Esports is not a departure from our mission; it is an expression of it. Sport has always evolved, and our role at Qatar Museums is to ensure that our spaces evolve with it. By making this the most accessible gaming destination in Qatar, we are opening our doors to an entirely new community of young people and giving them a permanent home inside one of the country's great cultural institutions."
Chief Executive Officer of Media City Qatar Hamad Omar A. Al-Mannai said: "Gaming and esports are becoming an increasingly important part of the global media landscape, and for Media City Qatar, this is a strategic key priority area that sits at the intersection of media, content, and technology. With the Middle East esports market projected to reach $9.57 billion by 2030 and the region expected to record the fastest growth globally at a 12.9% CAGR, we see a clear opportunity for Qatar to play a meaningful role in shaping the sector’s future. The 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar reflects that ambition by creating an accessible space where the next generation of digital creators and players can experiment, connect, and grow."
Bringing the Lounge to life on the ground is a multi-year strategic agreement between Qatar Museums and SNRG. Under the agreement, SNRG conceived, developed, and curated the full project from concept to execution, and holds ongoing responsibility for the Lounge's day-to-day operations and long-term development. The agreement is a meaningful recognition of SNRG's role in shaping Qatar's esports landscape.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SNRG Ibrahim Samha said: "As a leading esports company in Qatar, SNRG is dedicated to raising the standard of esports and propelling the country to the forefront of the global scene. The 321 Esports Lounge is one of the most defining things we have built in that mission, a home for the community where anyone can walk in, play, learn, and grow. Our role goes beyond launching a venue, it is to operate and grow a national platform that nurtures local talent and creates real opportunities for players across Qatar.
Partnering with Qatar Museums and standing alongside Media City Qatar to bring this to life is a defining moment for SNRG, and a statement of intent for the sector we are committed to building."
The 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar has been designed to serve everyone under one roof, from first-time players walking in for a casual session to national athletes preparing for competition. It operates on an accessibility-first, non-profit model, offering the most affordable gaming sessions available anywhere in Qatar, and will remain open and activated year-round with a continuous calendar of casual sessions, competitive tournaments, educational workshops, and structured training programmes.
The lounge features 12 high-end PC stations representing the most advanced gaming setups publicly accessible in Qatar, 5 console stations equipped with PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, a professional broadcast station for live streaming and content creation, and a complimentary viewing area open to all museum visitors and spectators.
Programming spans walk-in casual gaming sessions with no booking required, competitive tournaments across multiple game titles with cash prizes, classroom-style gamified educational workshops, and structured training courses designed to bridge the gap between casual play and competitive readiness.
The 321 Esports Lounge Powered by Media City Qatar is open now. To view the full programming calendar or learn more, visit https://321qosm.org.qa/en/.
