RIYADH — The e-gaming sector in Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid growth, driven by youth participation, major investments, and global e-sports events. With over 21 million players, the sector generated revenues of $1.13 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $13.6 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6%, according to the Saudi Arabia Gaming Industry 2025 Report. The report expects the video gaming sector to contribute $13 billion to the GDP by 2030. It also predicts that approximately 39,000 new jobs will be created thanks to the growth of the video game industry in the Saudi market. The video game sector will contribute $13 billion to the GDP by 2030. The report showed that women in Saudi Arabia accounts for 20% of the total number of e-sports players, compared to the global average of 5%. According to the report, the eSports World Cup, which was recently held in Saudi Arabia, attracted more than 500 million viewers and generated over 250 million hours of viewing time. The event also saw the sale of more than 175,000 tickets and over two million visitors to Boulevard City. The Saudi market is witnessing significant investment in the video game industry, as part of a vision to transform Saudi Arabia into a global hub for this industry. Saudi Arabia has also succeeded in attracting investments from a number of specialized funds, such as: The Savvy Games Group's $8.3 billion fund to acquire global gaming companies, A $38 billion investment fund in the gaming sector. The report revealed that Saudi Arabia will organize an Olympic-level e-sports event during the fourth quarter of 2025. Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen its position as a global gaming hub by combining eSports, game development, and major investments to drive the future of the industry, the report explained.
