Saudi Arabia’s $38B Investment in Esports – Will the Kingdom Become the New Centre of Esports?

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Generally speaking, when one considers locations for video gaming or Esports centers, Saudi Arabia isn’t typically associated with these hubs. Instead, the countries most often linked with such iGaming industries are usually the United States and China, which dominate this sector.

Conversely, Saudi Arabian authorities are aiming to disrupt the existing order by pouring a significant $38 billion into the Esports and gaming industry with the intention of fostering its expansion.

The question at hand is whether Saudi Arabia’s latest significant financial investments could position it as a leading hub for Esports in the future.

Let’s dive straight in to find out.

Why did Saudi Arabia recently invest so much in its Esports and gaming sector?

To boost economic diversity, Saudi Arabia has just committed nearly $40 billion towards the esports and video game industry.

Aiming to establish our kingdom as a top-tier global gaming center by the year’s end, this ambitious goal aligns with the Savvy Games Group-led strategic investment that forms part of our Vision 2030 plan.

Savvy Games Group is a company under the management of the Public Investment Fund, which is responsible for making such investments.

With the $38 billion investment, we’re looking forward to generating numerous job openings nationwide. If all goes according to plan with this ambitious initiative, it could substantially boost our economy and establish Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global gaming industry.

To attain objectives defined in our multi-year strategy, we’ll channel funds into crucial sectors. This encompasses supporting fledgling businesses as they enter the market and aiding established companies. Additionally, it involves creating or acquiring game publishing firms, as well as purchasing minority shares in gaming companies.

While aiming for a worldwide impact, the nation is equally dedicated to nurturing local businesses and generating employment opportunities within our borders.

Over the next few years, it remains to be seen which novel gaming businesses will arise, and it promises to be exciting to witness their development.

For instance, it’s possible that within the next five years, top-tier video games from around the world could be developed here, or high-quality online slots might become available at popular Canadian PayPal casinos. Only time will tell!

It’s widely thought among experts that Saudi Arabia might soon become a significant global center for video games.

Saudi Arabia to host the Esports World Cup (ECW) 2025

The annual Esports World Cup (EWC) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7th until August 24th. This upcoming event promises to be one of the most thrilling professional video game competitions of the year.

Here are some essential points regarding the forthcoming EWC. You can catch the action either by attending in person or through multiple reliable esports streaming and video-sharing platforms.

  • Esports tournament name: Esports World Cup (EWC)
  • Runs: Annually
  • Format: Multi-game tournament
  • Where and When: To be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 until August 24, 2025
  • How many tournaments: A total of 25 individual tournaments are planned
  • Games: 24 games, some of which include Apex Legends, Call of Duty, PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds), and Honor of Kings
  • Tournament organiser: Esports World Cup Foundation
  • Prize pool: Minimum of $70,000,000.00 guaranteed
  • Number of Esports teams/participants: More than 2,000 players from over 200 clubs from across the world
  • Funding: The 2025 ECW in Riyadh is also funded by Saudi Arabia’s PIF (Public Investment Fund)

As per the latest updates, these competitive games will include popular titles like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike, Dota 2, FIFA from EA Sports, League of Legends, and Overwatch. In essence, they will be competing in the digital realm as well.

In addition to Fighter games like Free Fire, Chess, Sim Racing, CrossFire, Mobile Legends, Starcraft II, Teamfight Tactics, and VALORANT, let’s not overlook any of these titles.

As a fervent admirer, I’m confidently optimistic that the upcoming event will be an extraordinary triumph, as predicted by those deeply entrenched in this field. If Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative also flourishes, there’s no logical hindrance to envision the region emerging as a formidable global hub for gaming, rivaling the world’s leading players.

There’s a good chance it will be several years yet before Saudi Arabia becomes as dominant in Esports and gaming as the United States and China are now.

With persistent investment and well-thought-out plans, the kingdom might effortlessly surpass other well-established gaming centers, like South Korea, Russia, and Brazil.

Final thoughts

In simple terms, the investments made by Saudi Arabia will be distributed across several major industries. As per additional information, a significant portion of approximately 2 billion Saudi Riyals is earmarked for Esports and emerging startups.

Approximately 20 billion dollars will be allocated towards established gaming ventures, 50 billion dollars for the growth and acquisition of current game publishing companies, and a staggering 70 billion dollars for purchasing minority shares in gaming corporations.

Over the next few years, it’s anticipated that Saudi Arabia will reap approximately US$13.3 billion due to rapid technological advancements, government funding, and flourishing online gaming communities, primarily in the field of Esports.

As a passionate follower, I’m excited to share that this progress could potentially generate approximately 40,000 jobs by the end of the next ten years! If Saudi Arabia persists on its current trajectory, it has a promising future ahead as a significant force in the gaming and Esports industry.

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2025-07-07 13:12