A new report from Galal & Karawi Management Consulting and Orient Planet Group reveals that video games have become the Middle East’s dominant digital media category, with Saudi Arabia leading the charge with approximately $1 billion in annual consumer spending. The findings underscore a major shift in the region’s digital economy, placing gaming at the forefront of growth and investment.
The study shows that total consumer spending on video games across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt reached $2.52 billion in 2024. This figure significantly surpasses spending on video-on-demand services ($1.16 billion) and digital music ($306.7 million), with gaming now accounting for 63.2% of all digital media expenditure in these key markets.
A Structural Shift in Digital Spending
The data highlights a fundamental change in how consumers in the region allocate their digital entertainment budgets. Video games have not only overtaken but have surpassed the combined value of streaming and music, signaling deeper user engagement and higher monetization potential. This evolution positions gaming as a central social and cultural platform, moving far beyond its traditional entertainment role.
Eng. Asem Galal, co-founder of Galal & Karawi Management Consulting, noted that the report challenges outdated perceptions of the industry.
“The data clearly shows that gaming is multidisciplinary by nature and demands creative, artistic, marketing, and legal expertise alongside technical development,” he said. Galal emphasized that gaming should be viewed as a fully integrated economic ecosystem spanning game design, storytelling, digital marketing, and intellectual property governance.
Key Market Dynamics
Saudi Arabia stands out as the region’s largest market by value, with gaming representing 69% of the kingdom’s total digital media spend. This leadership position is the result of sustained public and private investment into gaming infrastructure and esports as part of its economic diversification strategy.
Egypt represents the largest market by user volume, demonstrating an 11.5% year-on-year growth rate. Mobile gaming is the primary driver, accounting for 76.4% of usage in its mass-market, mobile-first ecosystem.
The UAE shows a more mature market profile with moderate annual growth of 7.3%. The country’s high disposable incomes and sophisticated digital consumer base support a thriving ecosystem for premium gaming content and significant in-game spending.
A Strategic Platform for Economic Growth
Dr. Nidal Abou Zaki, managing director of Orient Planet Group, described the findings as a reflection of a broader digital transformation. He positioned video games as a strategic economic platform that is reshaping brand engagement with youth audiences and attracting significant capital.
According to Abou Zaki, the gaming sector allows Arab youth to compete on a global stage from their home markets and presents high-quality investment opportunities that are still undercapitalized relative to their immense potential. The report concludes that video games are a core driver of the Middle East’s digital and creative economy, calling for integrated policies to unlock further growth.
About Galal & Karawi Management Consulting and Orient Planet Group
Galal & Karawi Management Consulting is a firm specializing in strategy, management, and digital transformation across various industries. Orient Planet Group is one of the Middle East’s most rapidly growing public relations, marketing, and communications consultancies.
Source: Arab Founders
