Esports and Gaming in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East

Two-thirds of Saudi Arabia's population is under 35, and most of them play. That simple fact sits behind one of the boldest economic bets in modern entertainment: a national decision to turn gaming and esports from a pastime into an industry, with studios, jobs, arenas and global events of its own. It is a central thread of Vision 2030, alongside tourism, sport and technology.

In September 2022 the Kingdom launched its National Gaming and Esports Strategy: 86 initiatives, carried out by more than 20 government and private bodies, aimed at adding about SAR 50 billion (roughly US$13 billion) to the economy and creating 39,000 jobs by 2030. The plan also calls for more than 30 globally competitive games made in Saudi studios and a place among the top three countries for professional esports players. Our guide to the Saudi gaming strategy and Savvy Games Group explains how it works.

The engine of that plan is Savvy Games Group, founded by the Public Investment Fund in 2021. Savvy owns Scopely, the maker of MONOPOLY GO!, whose catalog now includes Pokémon GO; ESL FACEIT Group, the world's largest esports operator; and Riyadh's own Steer Studios. In August 2026 a consortium led by PIF completed its US$55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, the publisher of EA SPORTS FC, Madden NFL and Battlefield, making the Kingdom the owner of one of the most recognized names in American gaming.

For American fans, Riyadh is now easier to reach than ever. Saudia flies nonstop from the US East Coast, and Delta plans its first nonstop from Atlanta to Riyadh for March 2027; see nonstop flights from the US. US passport holders can apply online for the Saudi tourist eVisa, and the city's finest hotels sit within a short drive of Boulevard City. Summer events run in the heat of July and August, so plan days indoors and evenings out.

For investors, the momentum is real: new studios, new free-zone licenses and new talent programs in every Gulf capital. Our guides to investing in the Middle East and free zones and company setup are the place to begin.