Saudi Esports Federation has appointed Rawan AlButairi as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 2025.

AlButairi succeeds Turki Alfawzan, who stepped down from the position last month after over seven years of service to the group.

Sharing the news, AlButairi posted on LinkedIn, “I am honored to be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Esports Federation. I extend my gratitude and appreciation to the Chairman of the Board, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, and to the members of the Board for the trust they have placed in me to assume this role.”

She added, “I am proud to lead one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent sports federations on its journey toward further growth and prosperity, to solidify our beloved Kingdom's position as a global hub for gaming and esports.”

She also expressed her wishes for Alfawzan, saying, “I also extend my sincere thanks to Turki Alfawzan for the exceptional efforts he made during his tenure, and for creating an outstanding work environment with a team full of talent and expertise. I look forward to working side-by-side with them to achieve the Federation's goals and serve the gaming and esports community. Onward to new heights.”

In her new role, AlButairi brings over two decades of leadership experience. She joined the Federation in February 2023 as the Executive Director of International Affairs and later transitioned into key roles, including Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Partnerships and Corporate Affairs, for a brief period.

Currently, she also serves as Assistant Secretary General for the GCC Esports Federation and the Arab Esports Federation.

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Prior to joining the Federation, AlButairi served the Communications, Space & Telecommunications (CST) Commission as a Senior Advisor and Program Manager; the G20 Finance Track as a Senior Advisor; and Aramco as a Financial Analyst.

On the academic front, she holds an MBA in Finance from IESE Business School and a BSc in Finance from the University of Maine.