PUBG MOBILE has launched Map the Kingdom in Saudi Arabia, a campus programme that asks students to build custom in-game maps reflecting the Kingdom’s heritage and ambitions. The initiative is backed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF).
It spans eight universities in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, includes mentoring and workshops, and ends with a Grand Finale at SEF Arena. Prize pools: SAR 5,000 for inner-university contests and SAR 40,000 for the national inter-university event.
And yes, the maps live inside PUBG MOBILE’s WOW mode, so people can actually play them, not just nod politely.
What ‘Map the Kingdom’ actually is
A student challenge to build playable PUBG MOBILE maps about Saudi identity, past and future.
- Hosted across eight universities in Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar
- Backed by MCIT and SEF
- Built on WOW mode with an in-game editor
- Workshops and mentorship from industry figures and local WOW creators
The programme uses PUBG MOBILE’s sandbox, WOW mode, which includes a dedicated editor for building custom experiences. Students can design everything from puzzle runs to PvE boss fights. The brief is straightforward: express Saudi culture and national pride in playable form. Support comes from official partners and creators, so teams aren’t left poking at menus in the dark.
Related reading: our quick guide to recent PUBG MOBILE updates for context on current features and modes: PUBG MOBILE 3.9 update guide.
Who’s involved and why it matters
Government, federation, and publisher alignment under Vision 2030’s skills push.
- Partners: MCIT and the Saudi Esports Federation
- Vision: grow talent from consumer to creator
- Outcome target: practical skills in level design, systems thinking, teamwork
MCIT frames the initiative as a skills pipeline move in line with Vision 2030, shifting young people from playing games to creating them. SEF calls out grassroots development and pathways for student talent. PUBG MOBILE brings the toolset and distribution so creations can reach the wider community. It is a neat triangle: policy, ecosystem, platform.
We’ve seen similar alignment around events in Riyadh this year. For the bigger picture of Saudi’s gaming build-out, see our coverage of Savvy Games Group with AWS and hardware investment at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
The universities and the format
Eight named institutions, two stages, one national finale.
- Universities:
- King Saud University
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
- Alfaisal University
- Prince Sultan University
- Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
- King Abdulaziz University
- University of Jeddah
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
- Stage 1: inner-university contests, SAR 5,000 total prize pool each
- Stage 2: inter-university event, SAR 40,000 total prize pool
- Finale venue: SEF Arena, judged by creators and PUBG MOBILE reps
Each campus runs its own map-building contest first. Top teams then meet in a national showdown. The brief stays consistent: build a WOW map that signals Saudi identity. The judging panel mixes creators with official representatives, which should balance playability with cultural intent.
If you follow regional tournaments, the scale and pathways will feel familiar to anyone who tracked the surge in registrations for MENA PUBG events this season: PMNC 2025 Fall snapshot.
What students get beyond prizes
Mentorship, workshops, portfolio material, and real players.
- Structured curriculum and hands-on workshops
- Access to leading Saudi WOW creators
- Exposure via the in-game WOW tab
- Portfolio-ready projects tied to a known IP
The workshops and creator access are the useful bit. Students learn practical tools, then publish inside a live game with discoverability. That beats a folder of screenshots. It also connects with a broader shift in the Kingdom’s scene where culturally grounded games are finding an audience. For a recent example outside PUBG, see the Saudi indie title Aunt Fatima and how it leans into local themes with modern tech: Saudi indie horror spotlight.
How WOW mode fits the brief
A sandbox editor that lets teams build, test and share.
- In-game editing tools and logic components
- Support for custom modes: challenges, mazes, PvE encounters
- Publishing through the WOW tab for community access
Because WOW mode runs inside PUBG MOBILE, students avoid the usual toolchain headaches. No exporting five different builds. You can iterate fast, test with classmates, then open it to the public. That loop is ideal for a short university-led programme aiming at playable ideas, not a three-year production.
New to PUBG on mobile? Here’s broader context on the game’s mobile presence at top-tier events: HONOR Magic7 Pro at EWC 2025.
What is PUBG MOBILE’s WOW mode?A sandbox inside PUBG MOBILE with a built-in editor. It lets you build custom maps and modes, then publish them via the WOW tab for others to play.
Who can take part in ‘Map the Kingdom’?Students from the eight listed Saudi universities. Each campus runs its own inner-university contest before the inter-university event.
What are the prizes?Inner-university competitions offer a SAR 5,000 total prize pool per campus. The national inter-university event offers SAR 40,000 in total.
Where is the finale?At SEF Arena, with judging by leading content creators and PUBG MOBILE officials.
Why is this tied to Vision 2030?The programme focuses on skills, creation and culture. It supports the shift from consuming games to building them, which aligns with Vision 2030’s human capital goals.
How do players find these maps later?Through the WOW tab inside PUBG MOBILE once the creations are published.
Is PUBG MOBILE free in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?Yes. It’s free to download on the App Store and Google Play. Regional availability applies.
Further reading on the region’s esports and gaming build-out:
Note for UAE readers: while the programme is Saudi-based, PUBG MOBILE’s WOW maps are accessible to players across the region once published in-game.
