The 2019 Summer Entertainment City (SEC) emerged as a hub for video and virtual reality (VR) gaming in Qatar since it opened in the first week of June at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, the organisers said.
“Games such as PUBG and Fortnite are very popular among the adults. We have seen groups of men coming and challenging each other at these games,” QSports head of Business Management Unit Aya Kassab told Gulf Times.
Kassab stressed that the SEC, a 29,000sqm entertainment facility for the ‘Summer in Qatar (SiQ) 2019’ programme, hosts a massive and high-end VR gaming setup that has been highly popular among the local community.


The VR section occupies a 6,000sqm area at the SEC


A young visitor enjoying a game in the VR section

As part of the highlights of the SEC, QSports allotted a 6,000sqm dedicated area to this section, which hosts "some of the world’s most- advanced VR simulators, gaming stations and themed gaming areas".
Other popular video/arcade and VR gaming options for both children and adults include Pac-Man, Beat Sabers and FIFA.
The SEC, organised by QSports in partnership with the Qatar National Tourism Council, concludes Saturday while other SiQ activities and offerings will continue until August 16. 
“We believe the biggest achievement of SEC 2019 is that we were able to have a higher footfall despite the summer season when people tend to travel, due to the wider range available in the VR and e-Gaming arena, more shopping outlets and food options, among others, Kassab said.
“The SEC is where everyone can come and enjoy as a family under one roof. We are proud to announce that we have served up to 54,000 visitors so far,” she added. 
According to QSports media manager Qazi Yousri, the City’s shopping souq also received a positive response from the public, offering a wide range of food and non-food items from different shops in Qatar and 25 different countries, including India, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Serbia, Turkey, Kuwait, South Korea and Thailand, among others.
Besides the SEC, QSports is also currently running the Doha Workers Cricket Cup, which is supported by QNTC as part of SiQ 2019.
“This tournament is for blue-collar workers,” Yousri said. “We are also running two summer camps at two state-of-the-art facilities. One is happening at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha and the other at Al Dana Club.”
SiQ also features the Heritage Week Old Souk at Tawar Mall, which runs until July 20 from 7pm to 10pm.
Other malls such as Gulf Mall, Doha Festival City, The Mall, Mirqab Mall, Al Khor Mall, Lagoona Mall, Landmark Mall, Tawar Mall and Hyatt Plaza are hosting the Ice Age’s ‘Meet & Greet’ sessions until Saturday.
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