Saudi Arabia's Gaming Ambition: From Traditional Play to Global Powerhouse
Saudi Arabia is making a name for itself in the global gaming and esports industry. With its ambitious vision to build an integrated gaming ecosystem, the Kingdom is establishing itself as a leading force in the field. Riyadh is at the center of this transformation, hosting the annual Esports World Cup, which brings together top players from around the globe.
The Evolution of Play
Games have always been a part of human life, evolving from simple play with sticks and stones to today's complex digital competitions. As local researcher and cultural advisor Ghada Aba Al-Khail explains, games began as a way for early humans to mimic daily life, like hunting and physical competition. Over time, they became a symbolic language for expression and a way to train the mind for strategic thinking. The shift from physical play to digital games reflects humanity's own journey, moving from primitive survival to technological innovation.
Dr. Maha Al Khashil, a history professor, adds that play is an innate human trait. It is how humans discover and understand the world, and it helps them build relationships and develop key skills like cooperation, strategic thinking, and creativity. Today, games are more than just entertainment; they are a form of soft power that shapes cultural awareness and connects generations.
The Kingdom's Vision and Impact
Saudi Arabia recognizes the importance of this sector and its impact on young people. The country is leveraging its global standing to become a premier hub for gaming and esports.
This effort is backed by the announcement of the Esports World Cup, the largest event of its kind to be held annually in Riyadh starting in the summer of 2024. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has stated that the tournament will be a major contributor to the Kingdom's economic growth, with a goal of adding over SAR50 billion to the GDP by 2030 and creating 39,000 new jobs. This initiative aims to transform Riyadh into the capital of esports and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the industry.
A Look Back: Nostalgia for Saudi Games
For many Saudis, traditional games like hopscotch or carrom evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia. As researcher Aba Al-Khail points out, these games were not just for fun— they were a social space where kids learned values like cooperation and teamwork. They are tied to a specific memory of place: the neighborhood dirt lot or schoolyard. Today, when these games are brought back at festivals, they serve as a bridge, connecting younger generations to a shared cultural past. This nostalgia, Aba Al-Khail notes, is tied to the shift from playing outside to gathering around a screen.
The arrival of gaming consoles like the Atari in the 1980s marked a major cultural shift in Saudi Arabia. Playing moved from the outdoors to the living room, and children began to engage with new languages and symbols through games. These consoles became more than just toys; they were cultural symbols of a new technological era.
When old video games are re-released, they tap into this same collective memory, turning games into cultural archives that document a society's transformation.
Games as a Cultural Bridge
Games, whether traditional or digital, are a powerful way to transmit cultural heritage. Dr. Al Khashil notes that they reflect a society's history, values, and dialects, affirming identity and a sense of belonging.
With the rise of digital gaming, this tradition continues. Historical games are a great example, as they provide an interactive way for players to engage with history, offering a more vivid experience than simply reading a book. These games have become incredibly popular, with sales often surpassing historical books and documentaries, showing a strong interest among young people in learning about the past through play.
Saudi developers are now using this medium to promote their own culture. A great example is the game "Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta," which reimagined the classic explorer as a hero in a contemporary adventure. Even with its limited technical success, it inspired a new generation of Saudi game creators. More recently, games like "Abo Khashem" have featured Saudi streets, characters, and dialects, creating an interactive way to experience local heritage.
Aba Al-Khail notes that this approach is a promising way to market heritage and build a "digital memory" that can be shared globally. By embedding traditional costumes, architecture, and dialects into games, developers can create a deeper emotional connection than a static museum exhibit ever could.
This cultural exchange goes both ways. As Saudis participate in global games, they become unofficial ambassadors, sharing their language and culture with others. This is a key part of Saudi Arabia's investment in events like the Esports World Cup. Visitors to Riyadh for these tournaments return with a new image of the country as a modern, welcoming place capable of hosting major international events. In this way, games are becoming a form of popular diplomacy, building connections that traditional politics cannot achieve alone.
A Global Esports Hub
Saudi Arabia is quickly becoming a global leader in esports, and the numbers prove it. Tournaments like the Esports World Cup have cemented the Kingdom's position by offering a new level of scale, innovation, and fan experience.
The esports industry is massive, with over 3.4 billion people participating worldwide. The number of viewers is also growing, expected to reach 640 million by 2027. This year's Esports World Cup showcased this growth, bringing together over 2,000 players from more than 100 countries to compete for a prize pool exceeding $70 million.
The impact of this tournament goes beyond the game itself. It has stimulated the local economy by driving demand for gaming hardware and creating new jobs and investment opportunities in areas like digital broadcasting and marketing. This has been a key step in strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global hub for the video game industry.
Key Infrastructure and Economic Growth
Data from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority shows strong growth in the sector, with over 2.4 million video game consoles imported in 2024 and 2025 alone.
The Kingdom's digital infrastructure has also seen major improvements. According to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission’s Saudi Internet Report 2024, response times for popular video games have improved by an impressive 88%, along with faster download speeds. These indicators confirm that Saudi Arabia is ready to host major international esports events, supported by its strong technical infrastructure and strategic investments. These efforts are a core part of Vision 2030 and its goal of diversifying the economy through digital industries.
A Strong Legislative Framework
Saudi Arabia is building a safe and well-regulated environment for its gaming industry, supported by a clear national strategy for the future.
The General Authority for Media Regulation plays a vital role in this effort. It works with international publishers to review and age-rate video games before they are released in Saudi Arabia, ensuring the content is appropriate for the local market. The Saudi age classification system, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was made mandatory in 2016. It now includes six categories: 3, 7, 12, 16, 18, and 21+.
This system is remarkably fast, classifying games within one to three business days. To date, over 3,700 games have been officially classified, with more than 700 new games added annually. The authority's efforts ensure a safe gaming environment, protect the younger generation, and maintain a balance between business interests and cultural values.
The National Strategy for the Future
The Kingdom's commitment to the sector is further solidified by the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched on September 15, 2022. This ambitious plan is a blueprint for continued growth, with 86 initiatives managed by 20 government and private entities.
The strategy focuses on eight key areas, including technology and hardware development, game production, esports, and support services. It also includes enabling areas such as infrastructure, legislation, education, and financial support.
A prime example of this vision is the Qiddiya City project, a city being built with the slogan "Play Life." This initiative redefines entertainment as a powerful economic and cultural force, aligning with the broader goals of Vision 2030 to create new opportunities and meet the aspirations of future generations.
