The Middle East erases 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 three key countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt — reached $2.1 billion, with an expected average annual growth rate of 8.3%. Let's delve into the main nuances and trends characterizing this region.

The most active sector development is happening in Saudi Arabia, which is utilizing government funds to create an international gaming hub. Newzoo forecasts that by 2026, the local market's turnover will exceed $1.3 billion, with an average annual growth rate of more than 6%.

The main player in the Kingdom is the investment holding Savvy Games Group, established by the local Sovereign Fund (PIF). With its assistance, the authorities aim to attract 250 companies to the country and create 39,000 jobs by 2030. They have already allocated $37.8 billion for this purpose, with over $13 billion dedicated to 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 major success was acquiring Scopely for $4.9 billion. Thanks to the success of Monopoly Go!, priority is now being given to deploying the allocated funds.