Saudi Arabia is emerging as one of the top tourism destinations in the world, including for gaming. Following the rollout of its national gaming and esports strategy in 2022, the country is growing into an industry giant, attracting interest from some of the biggest names in the gaming industry.
Gaming in Saudi Arabia isn’t only about esports and consoles; there are also gamers interested in casino games. Casino gaming is still a grey area in the country, but many players turn to SA online casinos as an alternative. These offshore sites give Saudi players the chance to play different kinds of casino games, which allows them to experience what they might get in a traditional casino. And even with strict rules around online gambling, the fact that people still use these platforms shows how big gaming has become in Saudi Arabia.
Currently, gaming and esports are the biggest exports of the Saudi economy, alongside tourism and digital infrastructure. The country holds a large share of the US$1.4 billion global esports industry. Now, the Saudi government has set its sights on new goals as it plans to build a $13 billion (SAR 50 billion) gaming hub by 2030. This plan is designed to make the country the biggest esports and gaming destination in the world within the next five years.
Understanding Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Gaming Development Plan
Currently, Saudi Arabia is one of the most-talked-about destinations when it comes to real estate development, gaming, tech, sports, and esports. However, the country’s Esports Federation isn’t satisfied with its current progress. It is pushing to become a global leader in the gaming industry by 2030.
Saudi is largely responsible for most of the gaming revenue in the Middle East and Africa (MENA). Still, it also believes that it can become an even bigger player in the global market. The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) explains that over 67% of its population, which amounts to 23.5 million people, are gaming enthusiasts, and over 1,000 of these people are pursuing full-time careers in Esports.
The federation believes that by encouraging innovation, youth empowerment, and creativity, the esports economy could contribute US$13 billion (SAR 50 billion) to its GDP. This is also expected to lead to the creation of nearly 39,000 jobs with careers in game production, esports coaching, and event management.
The Main KPIs of the 2030 Gaming Development Plan
There are a few goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the progress of the 2030 gaming development plan. Apart from creating jobs and contributing billions to the nation’s economy, the country also plans to increase the number of women athletes in esports to 18% while the total number of female gamers will increase to 42%.
Saudi wants to become the number one destination for esports events while also hosting a large number of the most-viewed esports tournaments in the world. This will place the country in the top 3, among the ranks of nations like the United States, China, and South Korea, for countries with the most esports athletes per capita.
Lastly, the Saudi is working towards ensuring that over 250 gaming companies, including global gaming brands, establish regional offices in the country. To achieve this plan, the Saudi government has already put strategic plans in motion. Some of these plans include:
Developing and Promoting the Qiddiya City
Qiddaya City was announced in 2017 as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. It is a megaproject that is designed primarily for tourism and all-around entertainment, and it is expected to have a Formula 1 racetrack and an Aquarabia waterpark. Above all, it will be the heartbeat of Saudi Arabia’s gaming ambitions.
The country already hosts the Esports World Cup and a few major esports tournaments, but when Qiddaya City opens, the experiences from these gaming tournaments are expected to reach an all-time high and attract more people than previous events.
The Gaming and Esports District of Qiddaya City will cover over 500,000 square meters, and it will contain four state-of-the-art esports venues, which will have a combined seating capacity of about 73,000. One of the venues is expected to be among the top three esports venues globally and also house the world’s largest indoor LED screen.
With world-class gaming-themed hotels, dining, and entertainment venues, the district is expected to attract about 10 million visitors yearly, contributing to both the tourism and gaming sectors of the Saudi Arabian economy.
Investment in Global Video Game Companies
The Saudi government also hopes that about 30 of the top video game companies in the world will establish regional headquarters in Qiddaya City, while top esports clubs will also train and live in the area.
In line with this plan, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (SAPIF) announced that it has acquired global gaming company Electronic Arts (EA) in a US$55 billion deal. This move will make the company private and run under the leadership of the PIF, which falls perfectly within the plans of the Saudi government to become a global gaming hub by 2030.
To Wrap Up
Saudi Arabia is already a top gaming destination, but the country is pushing for more, aiming to generate US$13 billion from its gaming industry by 2030. The government has put a few plans in motion while making statement moves like acquiring Electronic Arts (EA). With these moves, the country is gaining momentum to achieve its goal of becoming a global gaming hub in the next five years.
