The Middle East is erasing borders thanks to government funding and global investments

MENA-3 is one of the most promising markets. According to Niko Partners, last year, consumer spending on games in the three key countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt — reached $2.1 billion, with an average annual growth rate expected at 8.3%. Let's delve into the main nuances and trends characterizing this region.

The sector is most actively developing in Saudi Arabia, which uses government funds to create an international gaming hub. Newzoo predicts that by 2026, the local market's revenue will exceed $1.3 billion with a more than 6% average annual growth rate.

The key player in the Kingdom is the investment holding Savvy Games Group, established by the local Sovereign Fund (PIF). Through its efforts, the authorities aim to attract 250 companies to the country and create 39,000 jobs by 2030. To this end, they have already allocated $37.8 billion, of which over $13 billion will go towards M&A deals and strategic partnerships with leading global companies.

In recent years, Savvy has invested in dozens of developers and publishers worldwide, including Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Embracer Group, Nintendo, Capcom, and Nexon. Its first success was acquiring Scopely for $4.9 billion. Thanks to the success of Monopoly Go!, Scopely is now prioritized for deploying the allocated funds.