Edward Clayton 
With a substantial surge in investment, the gaming industry went from a market niche to generating mammoth revenue in the Middle East.
Recognizing the sector’s immense potential while experiencing rapid economic growth, countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have positioned themselves as gaming hubs.
Driven by eye-watering governmental investments, leading Arabic countries have created the world’s fastest-growing gaming market. The market carries a jaw-dropping value of $500 million.
With the technological revolution picking up pace, experts forecast the market to double to $1 billion by 2029. The UAE and Saudi Arabia stand at the forefront of this emerging global megatrend, with the former allocating $1bn toward eSports development.
UAE Ready to Embrace Full Gaming Potential
One of the UAE’s standout projects is a collaboration with the United States entertainment powerhouse, Wynn Resorts.
The UAE began the construction of Wynn Al Marjan Island, the first luxury resort with integrated gaming options, in Ras Al Khaimah last year.
But with the resort’s construction come other challenges. Gambling has traditionally been a forbidden practice in the Islamic world. However, the landscape has started to change, especially in the UAE.
Aware of the importance of setting a robust legal infrastructure, the Emirates is working tirelessly to make radical, albeit necessary, legal changes.
With the help of several notable figures from the US, including Jim Murren and Kevin Mullally, the UAE is meticulously crafting a regulatory framework that aligns with international standards while respecting local cultural sensitivities.
The Emirates’ gaming regulators recently granted the country’s first lottery license and published new gambling regulations. As such, the UAE has become the first country in the region to legalize ‘commercial gaming.’’
Kuwait is Lagging Behind
In modern societies, gaming and iGaming often go hand in hand. While the UAE recognizes this phenomenon, not all Middle East countries have approached this subject with open minds.
These include Kuwait. Blindfolded by cultural and religious conservatism, the country has remained staunchly opposed to gaming integration into its society.
Seemingly reluctant to stray away from its national heritage, Kuwait has chosen to uphold strict prohibitions, deploying a more restrictive approach to the influence of Western trends in the region.
Such a traditionalistic approach has hindered the development of the gaming industry in the country, making it tough for real money online casinos in Kuwait to cross into the mainstream.
However, the UAE’s latest actions will come to local politicians’ attention and make them reconsider their stance.
Kuwait must learn from its neighbours and start relaxing stringent regulations to foster innovation and compete in the rapidly evolving gaming industry before it’s too late.
As evidenced by Saudi Arabia’s recent efforts, now is the perfect time to board the gaming bandwagon.
Saudis Heading Towards Global Gaming Domination
Striving to become the world’s gaming hub, Saudi Arabia has embarked on an unheard-of investment campaign in the gaming sector.
The Kingdom is reportedly injecting a staggering $38 billion into the industry, bidding to attract top talent, develop cutting-edge gaming technologies, and establish itself as a global leader in game development and eSports.
The Saudis see the gaming sector as a perfect opportunity to diversify their economic portfolio and reduce their reliance on oil revenues.
With around 3.32bn active gamers around the world, there are endless possibilities to create new revenue streams and generate employment opportunities. The innovative ‘Vision 2030’ project is the driving force behind this.
Saudi Arabia hosted the maiden eSports World Cup this summer, welcoming over 1,700 elite gamers from over 80 countries. It was the latest major gaming event staged in the desert.
Over the past few years, eSports events in Saudi Arabia have drawn nearly four million fans to live competitions in the Kingdom, garnering an additional 1.3bn views across various streaming platforms.
The upcoming Olympic eSports Games will put the cherry on top of the cake. Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural edition in 2025 after the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session unanimously approved the IOC Executive Board’s proposal on July 23.
The event could prove a turning point in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish itself as a global leader in the gaming industry and eSports.
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