Saudi Arabia imported over 2.4 million video game consoles in 2024 and 2025, according to data from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

Imports reached more than 1.7 million units in 2024, and 684,489 units so far in 2025.

China was the largest source of imports for both years, followed by Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and Vietnam in 2024, and the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom in 2025.

A 2024 report from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission noted an 88% improvement in response time for popular video games.

The report found that smart devices were the most used gaming platform at 24.2%, followed by PlayStation at 23.8%.

Usage patterns varied by gender and age, with smart devices more popular among females, and PlayStation leading among males and the 10-19 age group.

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🔗 Source: Zawya

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Young demographics and government strategy create explosive market expansion

Saudi Arabia’s gaming surge reflects a combination of favorable demographics and deliberate policy intervention that’s driving significant growth rates.

The kingdom’s gaming market is projected to grow from $1.77 billion in 2024 to $4.44 billion by 2033, representing a 10.77% compound annual growth rate 1. This expansion is powered by a population where over 70% are under 25 years old 2, creating a large natural audience for gaming content.

The government’s Vision 2030 strategy has turned gaming into an economic diversification tool. Saudi Arabia aims to create over 35,000 jobs and generate $13.3 billion in economic benefits through gaming by 2030 1.

The Esports World Cup in Riyadh, featuring over 2,000 players competing for $70 million in prizes, demonstrates how the kingdom is using large-scale events to establish itself as a regional gaming hub.

This combination of demographic advantages with strategic government investment creates a distinct growth trajectory compared to markets that rely on organic development alone.

2️⃣ Cultural adaptation drives deeper market penetration beyond hardware sales

The gaming industry’s success in Saudi Arabia shows how cultural relevance can unlock spending power that pure hardware access cannot achieve.

Saudi gamers, described as “whales,” spend significantly more on games than their American and European counterparts 2, suggesting that culturally resonant content drives premium spending behavior.

Early localization efforts like EA Sports’ FIFA series, which introduced Arabic menus and commentary, led to increased sales in the region 3. The success of locally-developed games like “Unearthed: Trail of Ibn Battuta,” featuring culturally relevant narratives, demonstrates the market appetite for authentic content 4.

However, the Middle East gaming market still faces a localization gap—Arabic is one of the top five spoken languages globally, yet Arabic titles remain underrepresented in app stores 3.

Gender usage patterns reveal untapped segments: females use smart devices for gaming at 28.5% compared to males at 21%, while males dominate PlayStation usage at 30.2% versus females at 15.1%.

This suggests that platform and content strategies tailored to different demographic segments could unlock additional market value beyond the current hardware import growth.

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