$37.8 billion strategy to build a Saudi Arabia esports hub

Saudi Arabia has mapped a concrete, capital-backed path to become a global force in gaming and esports. Through Savvy Games Group (SGG), owned by the Public Investment Fund, the Kingdom plans to invest $37.8 billion to scale companies, talent, and infrastructure that position the country as a Saudi Arabia esports hub by 2030.

SAR 142 billion plan: publisher acquisition, stakes, and disruptors

SGG’s plan allocates SAR 50 billion to acquire a leading game publisher as a strategic partner, SAR 70 billion for minority stakes that advance its development agenda, SAR 20 billion for mature industry partners that add expertise, and SAR 2 billion for early-stage “disruptors” in games and esports. This capital stack is designed to accelerate capability-building at home while embedding Saudi Arabia into the global value chain as a credible Saudi Arabia esports hub.

250 companies and 39,000 jobs by 2030 to deepen the hub

By 2030, the strategy targets the creation of 250 gaming companies in Saudi Arabia and 39,000 direct and indirect jobs across development, publishing, services, and esports operations. This jobs-and-firms target is the throughput for a durable ecosystem, not a single bet on marquee events. It reflects SGG’s multi-vehicle approach, including subsidiaries such as EFG (esports), Nine66 (developer ecosystem), and VOV (venues), to harden the Saudi Arabia esports hub with both software and services capacity.

SAR 50 billion GDP target with ecosystem multipliers

The sector’s contribution to GDP is projected to reach SAR 50 billion by 2030 (about $13.3 billion). That figure includes not only core game and esports revenues, but also spillover effects through events, media, venues, and adjacent services—key levers for turning a Saudi Arabia esports hub into a broader creative-economy engine.

Institutional backing signals long horizon for the hub

SGG was established by PIF to drive long-term growth of the global games and esports industry while developing Saudi Arabia into a games and esports hub. The mandate, backed by sovereign capital and global hiring (including leadership with AAA studio experience), signals patient timelines and cross-border ambitions that are essential for a resilient Saudi Arabia esports hub.

From capital to capabilities: how the hub takes shape

• Publisher anchor: Acquiring a top-tier publisher can transfer IP pipelines, production know-how, and distribution reach into the Kingdom, compressing years of capability-building into a single strategic step for the Saudi Arabia esports hub.
• Minority stakes: Targeted stakes align external studios and platforms with SGG’s roadmap without the drag of full integrations, giving the hub flexibility to learn, partner, and scale where impact is clearest.
• Ecosystem scaffolding: EFG, Nine66, and VOV knit together competitive circuits, developer enablement, and physical spaces—three pillars that convert investment into participation and retention for the Saudi Arabia esports hub.

What changes on the ground for players and creators

For local talent, the plan means more studios, training pathways, and events connected to global circuits, with career ladders that didn’t exist at scale a few years ago. For international teams and publishers, Saudi Arabia becomes a strategic node—funded, partnered, and equipped—for co-development, testing, and competition, reinforcing the country’s position as a Saudi Arabia esports hub.

Also Read: Building the Sports Economy in Saudi Arabia: Investment and Growth Trends