Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a global force in sports of all varieties from soccer to golf and more, but in esports it is already leading the word.

When Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan took over the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports (SAFEIS) and the Arab esports Federation in 2017, it signaled a huge growth opportunity. In a few short years the nation came to dominate esports.

Prince Faisal is intent on making Saudi Arabia a powerhouse of esporting achievement. Major announcements were quick to follow. Under the direction of Prince Faisal and other senior Saudi Royals, Riyadh is in a state of transformation, becoming an “esports City” with $500 million of investments. 

The oil-rich state is planning for a post-oil economy and it sees sports as one important aspect of that future - especially esports.

Saudia Arabia is targeting $13 billion in growth for the industry by 2030. It will need to attract around 250 companies creating 40,000 jobs to do so. It’s a massive undertaking, but the gulf state is more than prepared for it.

The richest one percent

Speaking to CNN on Sept. 5, Prince Faisal explained just how massive the opportunities are.

“Our outlook by 2030 is to have a contribution to the Saudi economy which will roughly be around one percent of the GDP,” he said before joking, “I mean, I’m not a numbers guy, but when they first told me we’re looking to be one percent of the GDP, I kept saying, ‘Do we wanna say one percent? That sounds like such a small number,’ and then they translated that into 50 billion riyals, and I was like, ‘Can we take that down a little bit, maybe point eight [of a percent]?”

When asked if he was worried about the 40,000 jobs figure Prince Faisal said it will happen because “I know this community and the talent we have.”

The Esports World Cup comes to Saudia Arabia

At the tail end of last year Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and its Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, announced a yearly Esports World Cup will be held in Riyadh, the nation state’s capital.

The event, run by the newly formed Esports World Cup Foundation, will replace the Gamers8 tournament. Last year Gamers8 was one of the biggest tournaments in the world with a prize pot totaling $45 million dollars. 

Last year the winners of each tournament walked away with significant cash prizes. For instance, Soniqs esports collected $600,000 for their victory in the PUBG Global Series 2. The outsized rewards ensure the participation of the very best esports competitors in the world.

The World Cup event is yet to announce the exact titles that will be featured in this year’s tournament, although the expectation is the event will only grow in size and scope from previous years.

Inward private investment

The rate at which Saudia Arabia’s gaming sector is growing is helping to attract significant inward private investment too.

True Gamers is one of the headline firms expanding its operations into the Kingdom. The UAE-based company plans to establish over 150 centers across the border in its Gulf neighbor. 

Established in 2019, True Gamers' mission is to make video gaming more accessible through its True Gamers lounges.

The company combines entertainment, technology, and competitive elements to create a truly immersive gaming experience for its customers. The lounges are proving a big hit with the gaming community, helping fuel the firm’s expansion. The company experienced 140 percent growth in 2023, increasing its valuation from $10 to $24 million.

“True Gamers has been closely monitoring the burgeoning esports and gaming scene in Saudi Arabia, a key player in the MENA region. Recognizing the tremendous potential of this market, we have embarked on a strategic expansion into the Kingdom, aligning with the ambitious Vision 2030 development plan,” Belyanin told Arab News on Jan. 25.

The company signed a master franchise deal with investor Nawaf Al-Bishri, who will help the corporation meet its ambitious targets by 2030.

“We are employing a franchise strategy to accelerate our expansion across Saudi Arabia,” Belyanin said. “Furthermore, the True Gamers franchise is open to other market players seeking to collaborate with our proven business model and jointly propel the Kingdom’s gaming industry.”

The first True Gamers facility will open in Jeddah in early 2024, and the company is targeting ten gaming locations before the year is out. Moreover they plan to launch a series of local and international esports amateurs tournaments in Saudi Arabia, following their successful events in Dubai which drew over 1,500 participants.

With significant public and private investment in Saudi Arabia’s esports sector, it is little wonder the Gulf state is leading the world, and it looks like that lead will only become longer in the years to come.