Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s online game sector has seen outstanding progress over the previous two years, with imports of online game consoles reaching over 2.4 million items in 2024 and 2025, in keeping with knowledge from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
In 2024, over 1.7 million items have been imported, whereas 684,489 items have been imported thus far in 2025. The authority indicated that the highest 5 international locations from the place imports occurred in 2024 have been: China, adopted by Japan, the USA, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. In 2025, China additionally topped the record of suppliers, adopted by the USA, Japan, Vietnam, and the UK.
The Saudi Web Report 2024 from the Communications, House and Know-how Fee highlighted important enhancements within the digital infrastructure, together with an 88 % enchancment in response time for widespread video video games. The report additionally detailed utilization developments, displaying that sensible units are probably the most used platform with 24.2 % of customers, adopted carefully by PlayStation with 23.8 %.
The report confirmed that the proportion of sensible system use amongst females reached 28.5 % in comparison with 21 % amongst males, whereas PlayStation units achieved a proportion of 30.2 amongst males in comparison with 15.1 % amongst females..
The report indicated that PlayStation topped the record of video games utilized by the 10-19 age group, with 54.8 % of the customers, whereas sensible units topped the record for the remaining age teams: 20-29 age group with 30.8 %; adopted by the 30-39 age group with 23.8 %; the 40-49 age group with 15.3 %; 8.7 % for the 50-59 age group, and 5 % for the 60-74 age group.
The report additionally revealed probably the most downloaded digital video games on sensible units within the Kingdom, with Whiteout Survival coming in first place, adopted by Roblox in second place, Subway Surfers in third place, PUBG Cell in fourth place, and Garena Free Fireplace in fifth place. These indicators verify that the Kingdom has turn into a number one regional and worldwide vacation spot for internet hosting main e-Sports activities occasions, supported by its technical infrastructure and ongoing investments within the sector, as a part of the Kingdom’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 targets to diversify the economic system and promote digital industries.
The Esports World Cup, which is being held in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, reinforces the Kingdom’s rising position as a world gaming hub, the report identified. The occasion options over 2,000 gamers from greater than 100 international locations competing for prizes exceeding $70 million, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s place within the international gaming and e-sports scene.