NIP to layoff Swedish staff and move operations to Abu Dhabi according to Swedish news outlet

According to a report by Swedish news outlet Expressen, NIP intends to move operations to their core headquarters in Abu Dhabi. While "no final decisions have been made (translated)" according to NIP Group CEO Hicham Chahine, employees have been notified.

The move is apparently part of a five-year, $40-million deal with the state-owned Abu Dhabi Investment Office. Expressen also reports that NIP's Counter-Strike players were encouraged to move to the United Arab Emirates, but declined the invitation and are reportedly set to remain in Europe.

Founded in Sweden at the turn of the century, NIP arguably began their exodus from their home country in 2023, when former chief operations officer Jonas Gundersen cited "the impending fall of Sweden as a CS nation" and lack of "the talent needed to win majors (translated)" as reasons for NIP's transition to an international Counter-Strike roster.

An Expressen opinion piece from Sebastian Parkkila laments NIP's latest "betrayal," noting that teams EYEBALLERS and Alliance are currently ranked higher than NIP despite fielding full-Swedish rosters. He concludes "only the memories remain, even if they feel tarnished today."