Saudi gaming scene attracts new investment

Global esports platform Webedia Esports Agency, through its regional arm Webedia Arabia Group, has acquired Saudi-based gaming and esports platform SaudiGamer.com.

The purchase comes as the Saudi gaming market soars, with revenues topping $1.09bn in 2019 and growth of 41.1 per cent year-on-year. The kingdom is now home to more than 21.1 million gamers and is the 19th biggest gaming market in the world.

With the new acquisition, Webedia will boost coverage of local and regional esports tournaments and events. It also plans a variety of new shows on YouTube with gaming celebrities. Webedia also offers a bigger playground for Saudi gamers to compete.

In 2020, SaudiGamer.com boasted of over nine million page views by over two million users and 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube.

Read: Half of all Saudi, UAE gamers spent more time playing during lockdowns: study

In November and December 2020 alone, Saudigamer.com amassed 1.6 million page views, (representing a growth of 220 per cent in comparison to the previous year), 400,000 new users, 1.7 million followers on Instagram and half a million followers on Twitter.

“This strategic acquisition represents a strong building block in the foundation of esports talents in the region as today’s gamers in the Arab World are in the driver’s seat steering the future of the industry on a global level,” said George Maktabi, chief executive officer, Webedia Arabia Group.

“As SaudiGamer.com gears up to owning the gaming space, we will be working with talents and brands and developing job opportunities in KSA to ultimately provide a complete and unparalleled esports experience” he added.