MENA overview
The MENA region has been a growing market for gaming for years. By 2027, the region’s digital gaming revenue was expected to almost double from about three billion U.S. dollars in 2021. The top three gaming markets in MENA are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt. Large game developers such as Ubisoft, Minecraft, and Fortnite consider young people from the region as some of their most passionate fans.MENA gaming hubs
With a high level of disposable income, a youthful and growing population , and rising demands for leisure activities, Saudi Arabia's gaming sector has grown rapidly. The number of gamers in the region keeps increasing as smartphones, PCs, and consoles become available to more of the region’s population. With more than 90 percent of the population of Saudi Arabia owning smartphones, mobile device gaming witnessed a 25 percent growth between 2015 and 2020.The gaming market in the UAE is strong, welcoming many game developers to expand their operations in Abu Dhabi. Accordingly, Abu Dhabi is becoming an autonomous gaming and e-sports hotspot in the emirate. Additionally, Tencent Games, one of the highest-grossing multimedia companies, opened its regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City. The UAE was expected to continue having the highest revenue per user of e-sports in the region and one of the highest in the world.
