Invest Qatar, the nation’s investment promotion agency, and Level Infinite, Tencent’s global gaming brand, have formalized a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Qatar Economic Forum. This collaboration aims to accelerate the growth of Qatar’s gaming ecosystem by leveraging shared expertise, fostering talent development, and enhancing product innovation within the sector.
Under the agreement, Invest Qatar will facilitate Level Infinite’s entry into the Qatari market by connecting the company with critical stakeholders and promoting awareness of its gaming initiatives. Both parties will jointly focus on nurturing local talent through training programs centered on gaming technology and innovation, thereby positioning Qatar as a competitive player in the regional gaming landscape.
The move comes as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) gaming market experiences unprecedented growth, projected to expand from $7.04 billion in 2025 to $11.87 billion by 2030—a compound annual growth rate of 11.02%. This rapid rise positions MENA as the fastest-growing gaming region globally, boasting a 15% revenue increase in 2024 alone and a player base of approximately 574 million gamers, accounting for 17% of the world’s gaming community.
Qatar enters a fiercely competitive environment with neighboring Saudi Arabia investing heavily—$38 billion committed by its Public Investment Fund to gaming initiatives, expected to contribute $13.3 billion to GDP and create 39,000 jobs by 2030. Similarly, the UAE is striving to become a regional gaming hub, both countries competing to attract global gaming firms and cultivate local talent pools.
Qatar’s strategic advantages include its geographic position, cutting-edge ICT infrastructure, and the world’s fastest mobile internet speeds, offering a robust foundation to capitalize on this booming market.
A critical factor shaping Qatar’s gaming opportunity is the dominance of mobile gaming, which constitutes 47% of total gaming revenue in MENA, with some estimates placing it above 65%. This trend is supported by high smartphone penetration and a mobile-first culture, with users in the region downloading over 26,200 apps per minute, underscoring vast consumer engagement.
The partnership between Invest Qatar and Tencent’s Level Infinite is thus poised to propel Qatar’s gaming industry forward, aligning with global trends and regional dynamics to foster a thriving digital entertainment ecosystem.
