Saudi Arabia is accelerating investments in entertainment, gaming and creative industries as part of its broader economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030.
A recent example is Saudi-owned gaming company Scopely’s $1 billion acquisition of Turkish puzzle-game developer Pixel Flow, highlighting the Kingdom’s growing presence in the global gaming market, which is valued at over $100 billion.
The investment reflects Saudi Arabia’s strategy to build new growth engines beyond oil by expanding sectors such as gaming, film production, esports and digital media. These industries are expected to generate jobs, attract international investment and strengthen private-sector participation in the economy.
Economist Talat Hafiz said diversifying income sources is essential for long-term economic stability, noting that reliance on oil revenues exposes economies to price volatility and production fluctuations.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has played a central role in driving these efforts. Between 2020 and 2024, spending by sovereign programmes and companies on local content reached SR591 billion ($157 billion), while the fund’s private-sector platform generated more than 190 investment opportunities worth over SR40 billion.
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to develop 13 strategic sectors, with gaming and esports emerging as key pillars. The national gaming strategy targets a GDP contribution exceeding SR50 billion by 2030 and the creation of more than 39,000 jobs across game development, publishing and infrastructure.
Savvy Games Group, established by the PIF to strengthen the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem, said the focus is on building sustainable businesses that contribute to economic growth and develop local talent through international partnerships and domestic ecosystem development.
Saudi Arabia’s gaming market fundamentals are also strong. Official data shows that 23.5 million people in the Kingdom—around 67 percent of the population—are gamers. Women account for 42 percent of gamers and 18 percent of esports participants.
With internet penetration exceeding 90 percent and more than 60 percent of the population under the age of 30, Saudi Arabia has a large digitally native audience that continues to drive demand for gaming and esports.
Support programmes and partnerships are also helping domestic studios expand. Initiatives involving organisations such as NEOM, stc’s InspireU programme, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the National Technology Development Programme are providing infrastructure, funding and mentorship for game developers.
Beyond gaming, Saudi Arabia’s broader entertainment sector is expected to create 450,000 jobs and contribute around 4.2 percent of GDP by 2030, according to the Ministry of Investment. Since 2020, authorities have issued 303 investment licences in the sector, including 34 new licences in the third quarter alone.
Major events such as the Esports World Cup in Riyadh are further strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global esports hub, attracting international publishers, teams and investors.
Saudi Arabia is also investing in film and media production. AlUla has emerged as a key filming destination, offering incentives such as up to a 40 percent cash rebate to attract international productions while providing training and employment opportunities for local talent.
These initiatives form part of a broader strategy to enhance quality of life, promote Saudi culture internationally and attract tourism.
Analysts say that while entertainment demand may fluctuate over time, Saudi Arabia’s diversified economy—spanning tourism, logistics, mining, advanced technologies and transportation—positions the Kingdom for sustained growth beyond the oil sector.
