Insighfs MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA GAMING REVIEW 2025 The MEA gaming market is set to nearly triple from US 7.4 billion in 2024 to over US 19.4 billion by 2033. From eSports empires to startup unicorns, discover how MEA’s gaming contenders are leveling up to claim their share of the global spotlight. up to claim their share of the global spotlight. Lucidityinsights.com

A SPECIAL REPORT / MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA GAMING REVIEW 2025 TABLE OF CONTENTS Editor’s Note 03 Welcome to the World of Gaming & eSports 05 A Visual History of Gaming & eSports: From Pinball to Play-to-Earn 07 The Global State of Gaming & eSports in 10 Graphs 09 Opinion: Gaming & Gamification’s Growing influence on the Real World 25 Gaming & eSports in the Middle East & Africa 27 Growth Dynamics across the Middle East & Africa in 2024 29 The Middle East & Africa’s Map of Gaming Titans 35 Saudi Arabia’s $70M Esports World Cup in Riyadh Sets Global Record 37 Why Sweden’s Ninjas in Pyjamas eSports Team relocated to Abu Dhabi 39 Top Gaming Markets in the Middle East & Africa 41 Turkey: The Region’s Latest Gaming Unicorn Factory 43 The UAE’s Gaming Vision 2033: Betting Big on eSports 53 Saudi’s e-Sporting Dominance 65 Israel: The MEA Region’s Gaming Powerhouse 75 Africa’s Mobile-First Gaming Surge 83 Conclusion: The Rise of Gaming & eSports in MEA 97

A SPECIAL REPORT / MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA GAMING REVIEW 2025 A SPECIAL REPORT / MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA GAMING REVIEW 2025 EDITOR’S NOTE Erika Masako Welch Chief Content Officer, Lucidity Insights first. The global gaming and eSports industry Africa’s market alone grew 12.4% many for the first time. But is booming — on track to surpass US last year, six times faster than global Israel has emerged as the region’s $564 billion by 2033. Yet, as much industry growth, driven largely most capitalized ecosystem, raising US of the spotlight remains fixed on the by mobile gaming and youthful $1.6 billion in 2024 alone, with global U.S., East Asia, and Europe, a quieter demographics. Meanwhile, Saudi players like Playtika and Moon Active revolution is taking shape in the Arabia commands 40% of the Arab at the helm. Middle East and Africa (MEA). Once world’s gaming revenues, with a gamer considered peripheral players, countries base of 23 million and over US $38 Turkey, on the other hand, has become across this vast region are now making billion earmarked for gaming and the “Unicorn Factory” of the region, calculated moves to build the next eSports investments under Vision having produced the first gaming frontier of the global gaming economy. 2030. unicorn (Peak Games) which has As of 2024, the collective gaming Startups are sprouting from Cairo to succeeded in creating a mobile gaming Coffee. market across the MEA region — Cape Town, from Lagos to Istanbul, startup founder mafia, spinning off including Turkey and Pakistan — is and Riyadh to Tel Aviv.

Peak Games) which has As of 2024, the collective gaming Startups are sprouting from Cairo to succeeded in creating a mobile gaming Coffee. market across the MEA region — Cape Town, from Lagos to Istanbul, startup founder mafia, spinning off including Turkey and Pakistan — is and Riyadh to Tel Aviv. Israel many additional gaming studios in valued at US $7.4 billion, and is dominates gaming venture funding Istanbul that have attracted massive forecast to grow to over US $19.4 today, but a new generation of funding. billion by 2033. That’s a compound African, Gulf, and Turkish founders In Dubai, a forward-looking Gaming annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%, are building world-class studios, 2033 Strategy aims to generate 30,000 far outpacing global averages. In fact, platforms, and eSports leagues — new jobs and add US $1 billion to GDP — establishing the emirate as a top-10 global gaming city. Saudi Arabia stands apart, using Across MEA, the convergence of mobile the Middle East and Africa aren’t just download numbers. The Middle East down investment to cultivate a vibrant penetration, public-sector vision, and catching up — they’re building the and Africa’s gaming surge signals eSports and gaming ecosystem from emerging tech — from blockchain to future of gaming. a larger transformation: a cultural scratch. Events like Gamers8 and the AR/VR — is reshaping what’s possible.

ation, public-sector vision, and catching up — they’re building the and Africa’s gaming surge signals eSports and gaming ecosystem from emerging tech — from blockchain to future of gaming. a larger transformation: a cultural scratch. Events like Gamers8 and the AR/VR — is reshaping what’s possible. reawakening that gives voice to millions eSports World Cup have shattered prize From eSports megafestivals like Saudi’s Across the region, key patterns are of creators, players, storytellers, and pool records, drawing millions in global Gamers8 and the ESports World Cup to emerging: mobile gaming rules supreme communities that have historically been viewership and signaling Riyadh’s Dubai’s GameExpo Summit and Egypt’s - a common trend in emerging markets; overlooked on the global stage. growing cultural and competitive fast-growing development scene, this is government-backed strategies drive This region isn’t just catching up — it’s influence. no longer an “emerging” region. It’s an ecosystem growth; eSports has evolved setting a new pace. emergent force. from niche competition to mainstream In Africa, early-stage ventures like This Special Report dives deep into the culture; and Web3 innovation is It isn’t just participating — in many South Africa’s Carry1st and Nigeria’s region’s gaming evolution — profiling finding fertile ground in gaming where ways, it’s leading. And the next KingMakers are laying the groundwork the biggest players, boldest strategies, traditional tech infrastructure is still unicorns, the next blockbuster eSports for what could become a decentralized, and most investable opportunities. catching up.

round in gaming where ways, it’s leading. And the next KingMakers are laying the groundwork the biggest players, boldest strategies, traditional tech infrastructure is still unicorns, the next blockbuster eSports for what could become a decentralized, and most investable opportunities. catching up. events, the next cultural gaming mobile-first gaming powerhouse. Whether you’re a founder, investor, And yet, what’s happening here is revolutions? – Chances are, they’ll be publisher, or policymaker, it’s clear: bigger than global market share or born right here.