Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi ministers on Saturday underscored the central position of esports and gaming within the Kingdom’s transformation, describing the sector as a “new oil” for financial and social improvement through the World New Sports activities Convention in Riyadh.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports activities, mentioned the Kingdom’s youth demographics — with 63 p.c of the inhabitants below 30 — make esports and gaming a strong driver for bettering high quality of life and attracting world occasions.
“Saudi Arabia has proved its functionality to host main worldwide occasions, however the FIFA World Cup 2034 would be the largest of all,” he mentioned, including that infrastructure, transport, and good cities are being developed to maximise long-term advantages past the event.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, famous that the Center East and North Africa’s gaming revenues reached $6 billion in 2024, with Saudi Arabia accounting for greater than one-third.
“If we take heed to this group and hold them on the coronary heart of our technique, whether or not in know-how, professionalism, or funding, we’ll all the time attain the precise vacation spot, led by the gamers themselves,” he mentioned.
Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Data Know-how, highlighted that Saudi Arabia now hosts world tournaments with over 2,000 gamers from 200 worldwide golf equipment, with prize swimming pools of as much as $17 million.
He pointed to main firms reminiscent of Savvy Video games Group as proof of the sector’s fast world progress.
Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Funding, described gaming and esports as a strategic sector for Imaginative and prescient 2030: “We contemplate this the brand new oil, as a result of it will depend on our most vital useful resource human capital. By the Public Funding Fund, we’re investing closely on this discipline as a result of it connects know-how, training, tourism, and innovation.”
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb mentioned esports has additionally grow to be a significant pillar of Saudi tourism. “After we host main occasions reminiscent of System One in Jeddah, we see full accommodations and busy eating places. That’s the identical affect esports is now bringing,” he mentioned.