Drone Champions League reaches new heights with thrilling 2023 Super Final

The historic amphitheatre of AlUla played host to a mesmerising spectacle as the Drone Champions League (DCL) Super Final drew the 2023 season to a close. With an impressive show of skill from 16 of the best drone pilots in the world, it was British team XBlades Racing, led by captain Thomas Kund, that came out on top to win.

The Super Final, Organised by Royal Commission for AlUla and DCL in collaboration with strategic partners Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones and the Saudi E-Sports Federation, saw the best four teams over the DCL season come together in a series of intense 2v2 and 4v4 races, featuring pilots from nine countries across the world, including USA, Australia, France, Japan and South Korea. The event combined both physical and virtual elements, with the pilots competing on-stage together and racing virtually.

In keeping with AlUla’s stunning landscape, the amphitheatre in the Old Town provided the ultimate setting for the Super Final, with a giant screen showing the action to onlookers. The event also saw the DCL announce their Pilot of the Year 2023, which was awarded to Quad Force One captain Silas Aaron.

With a focus on testing the possibilities of technological innovation, and not only delivering for elite pilots but also the grassroots, the course competed by the pilots in the Super Final will soon be available for all players of ‘DCL: The Game’, available on PlayStation, Xbox, Mac and PC.

Reflecting on the event, Markus Stampfer, Chairman of the DCL Board, said, “The Super Final is the ultimate race in the DCL’s season, and the entertainment and setting was absolutely fitting for such an occasion. This was the first Super Final ever held in a GCC country, and we are excited to see the passion for drone racing in this region. We are particularly grateful to the support of AlUla in making this event everything it could be, and really look forward to using this as a platform for even bigger, better races into the future. We’re so excited about the DCL’s future. This is just the beginning.”

Rami AlMoallim, Vice President of Destination Management and Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), added, “We are a very ambitious destination, and hosting international e-sports events, such as the DCL Super Final, is an important milestone for us in our future objectives and vision. AlUla is a truly historical location, with more than 7,000 years of history. With the DCL Super Final, and the highest level of innovation and technology in e-sport and the local community engagement, we continue to demonstrate that AlUla will also be a key hub of innovation in the future.”

Winning captain Thomas Kund commented: “Winning the DCL Super Final is a huge achievement, for me personally and for the team. We’ve worked so hard throughout the season to continue to get better, and to win it together in such a beautiful area makes it all worthwhile. We’re very thankful to the organisers and AlUla for delivering such a great event, and we very much hope to be back again soon.”

The Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 marks the inaugural event from the world of E-Sports and drone racing sports to be introduced into the AlUla Moments Calendar of events and festivals.

To watch a repeat of the Super Final, please visit the DCL’s Twitch account:

For media inquiries, please contact:

Drone Champions League (DCL) – stefany.cardenas@bcw-global.com

Experience AlUla – RCU.Destination@hkstrategies.com

About DCL – Drone Champions League:

The DCL Drone Champions League is the global leader in professional drone racing. With a mission to combine cutting-edge technology and stunning locations, DCL has created a one-of-a-kind racing series that captures the imagination of millions worldwide. Featuring the world’s best drone racing teams, DCL events deliver high-speed excitement and jaw-dropping visuals in iconic destinations.

For more information, please visit: www.dcl.aero

About AlUla Moments:

AlUla Moments is AlUla’s new home for events. AlUla Moments calendar was launched at the end of 2021 and introduced new festivals and events to celebrate and unlock AlUla’s stories, uncover its secrets, and celebrate local and international cultures. With 7,000 years of civilisations and home to some of the most sophisticated ancient kingdoms of antiquity, AlUla is no stranger to social gatherings and cultural celebrations.

AlUla Moments calendar comprises of five festivals offering diverse experiences in art, culture, music, nature, wellness, equestrian activities, dining, and astronomy. The AlUla Wellness Festival featuring the latest practices to engage the mind, body and soul; Winter at Tantora, the original AlUla celebration of heritage, culture, fashion and music; the Ancient Kingdoms Festival offers immersive events acknowledging the ancient civilisations that lived in AlUla and its neighboring oases in Khaybar and Tayma; AlUla Skies Festival with the popular hot air balloons and stargazing experiences; and AlUla Arts Festival bringing together contemporary and ancient art events and experiences.

In addition to the festivals AlUla Moments calendar offers a number of marquee events, including AZIMUTH, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup, AlUla Camel Cup, and a world-class fashion, adventure and sporting events.

For more information, please visit experiencealula.com/en/alula-moments

About AlUla:

Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.

The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of 111 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.

Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after the Roman’s conquered the Nabataeans in 106 CE.

In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages, which has been recently listed on the UNESCO’s memory of the World Register. Also AlUla Old Town Village, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, which has been selected as one of the World’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by the UNWTO. Additionally, Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, which are key sites in the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia.

For more information, please visit: www.experiencealula.com