The Saudi Gaming Strategy and Savvy Games Group

Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched in September 2022, treats games as an industry to be built, not simply a market to be served. Its 86 initiatives span the whole chain: hardware and technology, game production, esports, infrastructure, regulation, education, talent and funding. By 2030 it aims to add about SAR 50 billion (roughly US$13 billion) to the economy, create more than 39,000 jobs, see more than 30 globally competitive games produced in Saudi studios, and place the Kingdom among the top three countries for professional esports players.

Savvy Games Group is the strategy's national champion. Founded by the Public Investment Fund in 2021, it announced a SAR 142 billion (about US$38 billion) investment plan in 2022, including SAR 70 billion for minority stakes in game companies and SAR 50 billion earmarked for a major publisher, alongside a goal of 250 games companies operating in the Kingdom. It is part of the wider Vision 2030 program and of the work of one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds.

For developers and investors, the opportunity is broad: publishing, localization for Arabic-speaking players, esports production, events and education. Riyadh is the base for regional headquarters, and our guides to free zones and company setup, startups and venture capital and universities and research are useful next steps. Investors in property near the new venues will find more in Saudi Arabia Luxury Real Estate.