Over 6,000 people attend Bahrain Gaming Experience

Over 6,000 people, mostly from neighbouring Gulf countries, visited the three-day ‘Bahrain Gaming Experience 2016’ organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, in cooperation with Sony.

Headlining the event was the ‘FIFA 16’ tournament with 1,024 participants battling it out for the grand prize.

The event was the largest of its kind in the region. Nineteen-year-old Bahraini, Mohammed Al Iraaj, won the competition and the grand prize, a brand-new Mini Copper, followed by Bahraini Naser Al Rayes, who won USD10,000, while Kuwaiti Ahmed Jaber came in third place and won USD5,000.

Commenting on the event, Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority Shaikh Khaled Bin Humood Al Khalifa, said, “We are proud of the success achieved in hosting the Bahrain Gaming Experience, the first event to be held under the umbrella of ‘Manama Capital of Gulf Tourism 2016’.”

“The event witnessed huge participation from Gulf nationals. Our main mission is to host events that further add value to Bahrain’s hospitality and tourism sector,” said Shaikh Khaled.

Winner of the ‘FIFA 16’ tournament, Mohammed Al Iraaj, said, “I am delighted to win the tournament. I have taken part in many competitions across the region. The last competition I took part in was held in Dubai two months ago. I always reach the quarter finals. However to win, and for the first time in my country, the feeling in indescribable.”

The ‘Manama Gulf Capital of Tourism’ initiative aims to strengthen the development of two-way tourism between the GCC countries and its people, as well as familiarize the historic cities and civilizations of the region. A number of events and activities will be held throughout the year.