How the Middle East and Africa Are Building the Future of Gaming

 

The global gaming and eSports industry is booming — on track to surpass US $564 billion by 2033. Yet, as much of the spotlight remains fixed on the U.S., East Asia, and Europe, a quieter revolution is taking shape in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Once considered peripheral players, countries across this vast region are now making calculated moves to build the next frontier of the global gaming economy.

As of 2024, the collective gaming market across the MEA region — including Turkey and Pakistan — is valued at US $7.4 billion, and is forecast to grow to over US $19.4 billion by 2033. That’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%, far outpacing global averages. In fact, Africa’s market alone grew 12.4% last year, six times faster than global industry growth, driven largely by mobile gaming and youthful demographics. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia commands 40% of the Arab world’s gaming revenues, with a gamer base of 23 million and over US $38 billion earmarked for gaming and eSports investments under Vision 2030.

 

Startups are sprouting from Cairo to Cape Town, from Lagos to Istanbul, and Riyadh to Tel Aviv. Israel dominates gaming venture funding today, but a new generation of African, Gulf, and Turkish founders are building world-class studios, platforms, and eSports leagues — many for the first time. Israel has emerged as the region’s most capitalized ecosystem, raising US $1.6 billion in 2024 alone, with global players like Playtika and Moon Active at the helm. 

Turkey, on the other hand, has become the “Unicorn Factory” of the region, having produced the first gaming unicorn (Peak Games) which has succeeded in creating a mobile gaming startup founder mafia, spinning off many additional gaming studios in Istanbul that have attracted massive funding.

 

In Dubai, a forward-looking Gaming 2033 Strategy aims to generate 30,000 new jobs and add US $1 billion to GDP — establishing the emirate as a top-10 global gaming city. 

Saudi Arabia stands apart, using topdown investment to cultivate a vibrant eSports and gaming ecosystem from scratch. Events like Gamers8 and the eSports World Cup have shattered prize pool records, drawing millions in global viewership and signaling Riyadh’s growing cultural and competitive influence.

In Africa, early-stage ventures like South Africa’s Carry1st and Nigeria’s KingMakers are laying the groundwork for what could become a decentralized, mobile-first gaming powerhouse.

Across MEA, the convergence of mobile penetration, public-sector vision, and emerging tech — from blockchain to AR/VR — is reshaping what’s possible. From eSports megafestivals like Saudi’s Gamers8 and the ESports World Cup to Dubai’s GameExpo Summit and Egypt’s fast-growing development scene, this is no longer an “emerging” region. It’s an emergent force.

This Special Report dives deep into the region’s gaming evolution — profiling the biggest players, boldest strategies, and most investable opportunities. Whether you’re a founder, investor, publisher, or policymaker, it’s clear:  

The Middle East and Africa aren’t just catching up — they’re building the future of gaming.

Across the region, key patterns are emerging: mobile gaming rules supreme - a common trend in emerging markets; government-backed strategies drive ecosystem growth; eSports has evolved from niche competition to mainstream culture; and Web3 innovation is finding fertile ground in gaming where traditional tech infrastructure is still catching up.

And yet, what’s happening here is bigger than global market share or download numbers. The Middle East and Africa’s gaming surge signals a larger transformation: a cultural reawakening that gives voice to millions of creators, players, storytellers, and communities that have historically been overlooked on the global stage. This region isn’t just catching up — it’s setting a new pace.

It isn’t just participating — in many ways, it’s leading. And the next unicorns, the next blockbuster eSports events, the next cultural gaming revolutions? – Chances are, they’ll be born right here.

Get a round-up of the biggest gaming trends, startup breakthroughs, and investment opportunities across the Middle East and Africa in 2025, by downloading our latest Special Report, “MEA Gaming Review 2025.”