Gaming industry in MENA - statistics & facts

The gaming industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has experienced significant growth and development in recent years. Starting from the COVID-19 pandemic that kept people indoors, which resulted in an unprecedented global boom in gaming, companies and investors did not slow down their gaming investments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Gaming market in MENA

The region’s gaming boom is driven by factors such as increased access to technology, a burgeoning youth population, and rising disposable incomes. With the multiplying share of users of high-speed mobile internet and the availability of gaming hardware, MENA’s three largest gaming markets, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, were expected to attract users across various platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices, reaching approximately 80 million by 2027. Saudi Arabia’s gaming community and developers saw mobile gaming as the sector with the most growth potential. This surge in participation has led to a thriving gaming scene for players, developers, publishers, and esports organizations.

Trends and prospects of gaming

One rising trend in the MENA gaming industry is the localization of content to cater to Arabic-speaking users. Game developers are increasingly translating their titles into Arabic and incorporating elements of the culture into game narratives to enhance the gaming experience for the region’s players. This localization effort has widened the appeal of games and saw a positive public response for its contribution to preserving and promoting the Arab cultural heritage within the digital world. Additionally, governments and industry stakeholders in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are actively investing in gaming events, conventions, and tournaments, as well as e-sports infrastructure. 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.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Salma Saleh, Mar 13, 2024

Key insights

Gaming revenue in MENA 2024
15.26bn USD
Highest share of gaming revenue generated in MENA
Saudi Arabia
Highest share of gaming users in MENA
Egypt
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Gaming revenue in the Middle East and North Africa from 2022 with a forecast for 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Video Gaming & eSports

Gaming revenue MENA 2022-2027

Distribution of gaming revenue in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2023, by select country

Video Gaming & eSports

Distribution of gaming revenue MENA 2023, by select country

Number of mobile, pc, and console gamers in the Middle East and North Africa region from 2023 with a forecast for 2027 (in millions)

Video Gaming & eSports

Number of gamers MENA 2022-2027

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E-sports

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E-sports

AR and VR

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Media industry in Saudi Arabia
e-Sports in the Middle East and North Africa
e-Sports in the Middle East and North Africa

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