(MENAFN) The gaming market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a booming sector, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with a tech-savvy young population. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.88 percent between 2022-2027, reaching over USD5bn by 2025. In the GCC, more than half the population is under 30 years old, providing a visible opportunity to create localized gaming content. Saudi Arabia is currently the biggest market in the region, with a gaming portfolio valued at around $1bn in 2021. However, investments by other countries like Qatar and the UAE are also contributing to the growth of the gaming industry.
The projected rise in revenue and value is attracting more intentional players, publishers, and development companies, local telecommunications companies, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to the region. Establishing the Qatar E-Sports Federation under the QOC umbrella has further accelerated the country's growth in the gaming sector. Additionally, centers like Virtuocity and Gaming District by Quests Esports, and the investment by telecoms giant Ooredoo via its Ooredoo Nation platform have increased the sector's popularity in Qatar.
According to reports, the MENA region's domestic market is the fastest-growing globally, with over 377 million estimated players, almost as many as Europe combined (386 million) and more than America (210 million). The region's booming gaming industry has also caught the attention of international players and investors.
Bachar Al Kayal, a gamer and YouTuber popularly known as 'Basharkk,' said that gaming is huge in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf region. He has nearly 1.5 million subscribers and over 150 million total views on his gaming channel on YouTube. According to Basharkk, a large part of the population born in the 1980s grew up with gaming. He added that many gaming tournaments and championships have been held in the Middle East in recent years, and many companies are starting to focus more on the region.
Despite the growing popularity of gaming in the region, Basharkk insists that more can be done to make the sport more mainstream. With the rising number of players and investments, the gaming industry in the Middle East and North Africa is poised for further growth and development, providing opportunities for local and international players, developers, and investors.
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