“Gaming and electronic sports” in Saudi Arabia…the fastest growing in the world
The Business Sector Bulletin issued by the Ministry of Commerce for the third quarter of 2025 showed that the gaming and e-sports sector in National Strategy for games and electronic sports, to build a sustainable global competitive sector, and achieve the goals of Vision 2030.
The strategy is a basic pillar, to provide 39 thousand jobs, and contribute 50 billion riyals to the gross domestic product by 2030.
The national strategy for games and electronic sports aims to stimulate the establishment of Start-up companies and attracting global investments in the field.
According to the bulletin, 250 electronic gaming companies are targeted for establishment, while an estimated 67% of the Saudi population (23.5 million) are electronic gaming enthusiasts.
The number of viewers of the tournament reached The Electronic Sports World Cup in its first and second editions generated 1.25 billion riyals, while the number of commercial registrations in electronic gaming activities reached 9,603 existing commercial registrations.
According to the bulletin, the gaming and electronic sports sector includes 33 areas of investment in accordance with the National Strategy for Games and Electronic Sports.
Riyadh hosted the World Cup for Electronic Sports, in its first and second editions. The World E-Sports Conference in its first and second editions in 2024 and 2025, and received more than 4 million visitors.
The competitions were followed through digital platforms by about 1.25 billion viewers around the world, with a total viewing rate exceeding 600 million hours.
Riyadh continues to consolidate its position as the global capital of e-sports, which enhances its goals. Developing the sports and entertainment sectors, and pushing the wheel of digital transformation to broader horizons.
The bulletin said: Electronic games development activity recorded a growth of 59% in the third quarter of 2025 with 9,399 activities, compared to 5,905 in the same quarter of last year.
Riyadh topped the Kingdom’s regions with 5,541 activities, followed by Makkah Al-Mukarramah. with 1,981 activities, while Al Sharqiya came third with 971 activities, Medina with 298 activities, and Al Qassim with 157 activities.
The electronic games industry activity recorded a growth of 72%, recording 714 activities in the third quarter of the current year, compared to 415 activities in the same quarter of 2024.
Riyadh came in first place. With 354 activities, followed by Makkah Al-Mukarramah with 183 activities, Al-Sharqiyah with 93 activities, Medina with 21 activities, and Al-Qassim fifth with 18 activities.
The bulletin showed that electronic games industry activity recorded a growth of 72% in the third quarter of 2025 with 714 activities, compared to 415 activities in the same quarter of last year.
The Riyadh region topped the electronic games industry activity with 354 activities, followed by Makkah Al-Mukarramah with 183 activities, while Al-Sharqiyah came third with 93 activities, Medina with 21 activities, and Al-Qassim with 18 activities.
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