Behind the Screen: Katching up on the Gaming Culture in Saudi Arabia

1st April, 2025 | Digital, Marketing, Social Media

by - Beth Laverty

With the dawn of a new digital age and the Kingdom taking a backseat in oil production, Saudi Arabia has set its sights on becoming player 1 in the global gaming and esports industry

As the sun goes down on the streets of Riyadh, the online gaming world comes to life with millions of users logging on to gaming servers, consoles, and mobile games, illuminating the darkness with the fluorescent pixels of their favourite virtual realm. This digital world is home to a new generation of tech-savvy individuals who have the power to transform the economy, embrace innovation, and centre the kingdom as a rapidly emerging global leader in the online gaming and esports industry.

Saudi Arabia, home to a skilful and youthful population, is experiencing transformative advancements across every industry. One of the most exciting developments is in the gaming industry, where Saudi Arabia is poised to become a major player on the international stage. With a technologically literate demographic and substantial investments, the nation is set to revolutionise the gaming and esports landscape, attracting global attention and redefining entertainment.

The Rapid Rise of Global Gaming

The global gaming scene is an exciting, ever-evolving battleground where epic quests and legendary duels unfold daily. From the neon-lit arenas of esports championships to the immersive worlds of RPGs, players are levelling up their skills and forging alliances across continents.

With cutting-edge technology such as VR and cloud gaming pushing the boundaries, the gaming universe continues to expand rapidly. The boom in international gaming culture is undeniable with the 2018 League of Legends final in Korea drawing over 100 million viewers, more than the audience of that year’s Super Bowl.

Saudi Arabia: A Young and Dynamic Gaming Culture

Something that sets Saudi Arabia’s gaming scene apart from the rest of the world is its youthful and enthusiastic demographic, which is significantly contributing to the Kingdom’s gaming culture. With 50% of the population below the age of 25 and 70% of the Kingdom identifying as gamers, amongst the nation’s most beloved games are mobile apps Candy Crush and Ludo King, with Roblox, FIFA, and League of Legends as some of the most downloaded console games.

Another inspiring aspect of Saudi Arabia’s digital gaming scene is its remarkable gender balance, with 48% of active gamers being female—a number that’s steadily on the rise. While female gamers may not yet dominate esports tournaments, they are a force to be reckoned with on platforms like Twitch and TikTok, where their vibrant presence offers immense advertising potential. Initiatives like Miss eSports, launched by PLG in 2019, and Saudi Girl Gamer are blazing trails to nurture emerging female talent and inspire more women to dive into the competitive esports arena.

Saudi Arabia’s Quest to Become a Global Gaming Powerhouse

Beyond the virtual realm, Saudi Arabia’s government is laying the groundwork to transform the Kingdom into a gaming powerhouse. The establishment of the Saudi Esports Federation and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy highlights this commitment. By 2030, these initiatives are expected to create 39,000 jobs and contribute $13.3 billion to the nation’s GDP. Additionally, the Ignite program, launched in 2022 by the Digital Content Council, is a $1.1 billion initiative designed to attract foreign investments in gaming and esports.

The announcement of the 2024 Esports World Cup, the first annual international esports tournament series replacing Gamers8, solidifies Saudi as an international gaming hub. Set in Riyadh, the inaugural Esports World Cup will be home to the largest esports and gaming festival in the world – the ultimate gamers’ paradise.

Spanning over 8 nail-biting weeks of competition, the tournament will host meet and greets with all your favourite esports stars, publishers, and content creators. The event opens a world of possibilities for the Kingdom as an emerging gaming destination, attracting new tourists who are just as obsessed with gaming as we are!

New Horizons at NEOM

At the centre of Saudi Arabia’s blossoming gaming industry is the innovative PIF giga-project NEOM, an aspiring regional hub set to become a focal point for the industry and its emerging talent. Having teamed up with MBC to create the region’s first-ever AAA games development studio, the collaboration is producing high-production-value games for local, regional and international gamers. It will relocate to NEOM to act as a catalyst for the gaming ecosystem. NEOM’s national gaming hub seeks to not only boost the existing gaming ecosystem but also expand the Kingdom’s digital footprint by developing new products and attracting aspiring gamers.

A Promising Future: The Kingdom’s Esports and Gaming Boom

Looking to the future, it is predicted that the Saudi Arabian esports market will grow by more than 250 percent in the next eight years and by 2030, the gaming industry’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product is expected to have multiplied fifty times. With endless possibilities for innovation and technological development, the future of gaming in Saudi Arabia looks incredibly promising.

The new esports tournaments will not only drive this growth but also attract more tourism to the region, firmly placing Saudi Arabia on the global gaming map. As the Kingdom continues to champion creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology, it is poised to become a leading force in the dynamic world of gaming and esports.

For more related updates and to Katch us covering similar topics, watch this space!

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