Saudi Crown Prince launches the national strategy for games and e-sports
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council for Economic Affairs and Development launched the event.
The national strategy for games and esports, in a new step towards leadership… and making the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a global center in this sector by 2030.
Saudi Vision 2030
This contributes to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in diversifying the economy and providing job opportunities in various sectors.
Providing high-quality entertainment to citizens, residents, and visitors alike.
His Highness the Crown Prince said: “The energy and creativity of Saudi youth and electronic games enthusiasts are the engines of the national strategy for games and e-sports.
Which meets the aspirations of the gaming community locally and globally by providing them with new and distinctive career and recreational opportunities.
To make the Kingdom a global center for the gaming and esports sector by 2030.”
Strategy Objectives
The strategy includes three main goals that have a direct impact on citizens, the private sector, and fans and professionals of sports and electronic games around the world.
It is to raise the quality of life by improving the players’ experience and providing new entertainment opportunities.
And achieving an economic impact by contributing to the GDP by about 50 billion riyals, directly and indirectly.
And creating new job opportunities amounting to more than 39,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030.
It also aims to reach global leadership and enhance the Kingdom’s position in the international arena.
By producing more than 30 competitive games globally in the Kingdom’s studios, and reaching the top three countries in the number of professional esports players.
86 initiatives
The Kingdom intends to implement this strategy through 86 initiatives covering the entire value chain, launched and managed by about 20 government and private agencies.
From launching business incubators, hosting major gaming and esports events, establishing educational academies, and developing stimulating regulations.
These initiatives are divided into eight focus areas, including:
Technology and hardware development, game production, e-sports, additional services, and other enabling areas include infrastructure, regulations, education, and talent acquisition, as well as funding and financial support.
The launch of this strategy by His Highness the Crown Prince is a continuation of the many initiatives and great successes achieved by the Kingdom in entertainment, sports, and electronic games.
The revolution of electronic games
Within the framework of Vision 2030, especially in light of the revolution and rapid growth that this sector is witnessing, which will provide new and fundamental opportunities.
It requires a national strategy to harness the Kingdom’s untapped capabilities and potential to keep pace with developments in this sector.
Ensuring integration with other strategic sectors and maximizing the benefit to the nation’s economy.
Empowering citizens, increasing the participation of the private sector, and enhancing the Kingdom’s position internationally.
The electronic games sector is the fastest growing in the media sector.
Its audience is growing rapidly, making it an economy in its own right, and it is expected to reach $200 billion by 2023.
It also constitutes the Kingdom’s location as a geographical bridge between the western and eastern world, and its youthful, interested, and lover of electronic games, reaching approximately 21 million people.
Ingredients that enhance the Kingdom’s ambition to be a home for future gaming innovations.
Attracting the world’s game developers, and a global esports platform, attracting talent and global companies.
It contributes to achieving a local and global impact in the sector, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.