Saudi Arabia Tops Arab Gaming Market with Nearly $1 Billion in Annual Spend
Saudi Arabia has claimed the top spot in the Arab world’s gaming market, with gamers in the Kingdom now responsible for around $1 billion in annual video game spending, more than any other country in the region, according to a new report from Galal & Karawi Management Consulting in partnership with Orient Planet Group.
The research demonstrates that Saudi Arabia controls all gaming activities within the Gulf Cooperation Council and North African region because Saudi Arabia leads all Arab countries in video game consumer spending. The Kingdom has emerged as a vital market for international publishers and developers because Saudi players generate the highest revenue in the region.
The gaming market in Saudi Arabia keeps expanding because people throughout the nation are using their mobile devices and gaming consoles and personal computers to play games. The Kingdom’s gamers now have access to multiple game titles which cover various genres including online battle games and sports and role-playing formats, and this broad appeal has helped push consumer outlays toward the $1 billion mark.
Industry analysts also note that Saudi Arabia’s average revenue per user (ARPU), a measure of how much each player spends, is the highest in the Arab region, underlining strong consumer engagement with games and related digital content. The country spends a large part of its digital media budget on gaming expenditures.
Saudi Arabia’s increasing expenditures demonstrate that video game revenues have experienced substantial growth throughout the entire Middle East and North Africa region. Total video game expenditures in the three major countries reached approximately $2.5 billion during the last fiscal year, which included substantial market contributions from both the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The Kingdom has become a leading business center because experts identified multiple reasons for this success.
Young people in the population use digital devices to play mobile games after they obtain smartphones and broadband internet access. The government programs which support both technological development and entertainment industry growth have increased local gaming interest because they bring major events and competitions and financial support to Saudi Arabian cities.
Saudi Arabia has selected gaming as its main focus for economic diversification since the past few years. The nation aims to achieve its Vision 2030 plan which establishes broad goals for cultural and creative industries while the gaming sector functions as a key growth area that will create jobs and attract investments to transform the Kingdom into an international entertainment hub. Independent reports project that the gaming and esports industries will deliver billions in GDP growth while creating more than 100000 new jobs by the end of the decade.
Saudi Arabia demonstrates its dedication to gaming through its organization of major esports events which include the Esports World Cup that brings together international competitors and spectators to demonstrate the deep roots of gaming culture in Saudi Arabian society. The Arab gaming market in Saudi Arabia is experiencing growth because of its high consumer spending patterns and its strategic development efforts which both public and private sectors are currently implementing.
The Kingdom’s attainment of success demonstrates its strategic role in generating regional revenue while creating a gaming ecosystem that competes with established international markets.
Saudi Arabia has established itself as the leading Arab gaming market because the country experiences continuous growth in its gaming industry which includes both casual mobile games and professional esports competitions.