Ninjas in Pyjamas Land in Abu Dhabi: What It Means for the UAE Gaming Revolution

A Swedish Beginning

The Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) story began in 2000 in Sweden, right at the dawn of professional esports. Born out of the first competitive wave of Counter-Strike, NiP quickly cemented themselves as pioneers—winning the CPL World Championship in 2001 and later becoming known for one of the most dominant streaks in esports history: an 87–0 unbeaten map run in CS:GO from 2012 to 2013.

Icons like Emil “HeatoN” Christensen and Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund became household names in gaming, helping define what it meant to be a professional esports athlete. Their tactical play, innovation, and consistency put NiP on the map as one of the most influential esports organizations in the world.

The Growth of a Global Brand

Over the years, NiP expanded beyond Counter-Strike into playing and competing in competitions for Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Rocket League, FIFA, and League of Legends. Their Rainbow Six Siege squad won the 2021 Six Invitational, while CS:GO and later CS2 rosters continued to maintain top-tier competitiveness.

In 2021, NiP merged with China’s ESV5 (the holding company behind Victory Five of the League of Legends Pro League). This merger created what is now known as NIP Group—a global digital entertainment powerhouse with operations across Sweden, China, Brazil, and the Middle East.

By 2024, NIP Group had gone public on Nasdaq, raising more than $20 million, with Co-CEO Mario Ho (also known as the youngest son of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho) emerging as a high-profile leader for the company. This milestone positioned NIP as one of the few esports organizations to transition into a diversified, publicly traded entertainment group.

The Players Defining Today’s Ninjas While the legacy names of HeatoN and GeT_RiGhT remain part of esports lore, the current Counter-Strike 2 roster represents a new era for NiP:

• Snappi (Denmark) – Veteran in-game leader with years of tactical expertise.
• sjuush (Denmark) – Joined in 2025, bringing explosive rifling ability.
• ewjerkz (Portugal) – Known for his aggressive entry fragging style.
• arrozdoce (Portugal) – A rising star balancing precision with consistency.
• r1nkle (Ukraine) – Young AWPer with a reputation for sharp clutch play.
• Xizt (Sweden) – Former NiP player and Counter-Strike legend, who returned in 2024 as head coach, guiding the new generation with veteran leadership.

Together, NiP’s squads across titles have earned over $9.2 million USD in lifetime tournament winnings, placing them among the most successful teams in esports history.

Why Abu Dhabi?

In 2025, NiP Group announced a landmark partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), securing up to $40 million USD in support to establish their global headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

This move is about more than relocating—it’s about plugging into a fast-growing ecosystem. Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in gaming and digital entertainment through AD Gaming and hubs like Yas Creative Hub, home to 120+ gaming companies, training programs like the Unity Center of Excellence, and new academic pathways in game design.

NiP’s HQ will employ around 300 people, serve as a hub for talent development, and advise on growing both grassroots and elite-level esports in the UAE. Co-founder and CEO of NIP Group, Hicham Chahine said of the matter, “We’re establishing a truly global headquarters that represents not only our growth as a company but the growth of gaming and entertainment in the Middle East.”

What It Means for the UAE

By bringing in one of the most storied esports teams in history, Abu Dhabi and the UAE are signaling their ambitions to become a global esports hub. For NiP, it’s a chance to anchor their legacy in a new region. For the UAE, it’s a statement: the future of gaming doesn’t just pass through the Middle East—it can be built here.