We delve into Saudi Vision 2030 as the country looks to become the epicentre of gaming before this decade concludes.

These goals are part of 'Saudi Vision 2030', a program launched by the Saudi Arabian government to establish Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a global leader, which features esports as an integral part of the plan. Increased financial support is something that The Kingdom has pledged, opening up more opportunities to organisations, players, game developers, and professionals who are eagerly pursuing a career in esports.

We take a look at the role of esports and gaming in Saudi Vision 2030, while also examining some of the future implications of this plan!

As touched on already, Saudi Vision 2030 is a program created by the Saudi Arabian government, specifically designed to increase diversification from an economic, social, and cultural perspective. The goals fall in line with visions outlined by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, who has had a significant impact on the esports industry.

Just like the name suggests, this vision comes with a deadline of 2030, with the following objectives being directly related to gaming:

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has dived further into the concept and idea for esports in Saudi Arabia, stating: “This would provide the foundational environment for developing competencies, and aiming to reach global leadership and enhance the Kingdom’s position on the international arena, through the production of more than 30 competitive games globally in the Kingdom’s studios, and reaching the top three countries in the number of professional esports players."

There are a total of 86 initiatives across gaming and esports that are being leveraged to make Saudi Vision 2030 a reality, which has been launched and is currently being managed by over 20 private and government entities.

Three of the key pillars in the vision statement are:

1. Investments in Infrastructure - Saudi has invested heavily in esports since 2020, consistently working on taking the industry to new heights. Many of these investments have been in infrastructure, with venues being at the forefront. One of the highlights is The Qiddiya City Esport Arena, which hopes to welcome 10 million visitors each year by 2030.

2. Education Programs - KSA is also keen to advance its knowledge in the industry with the introduction of various gaming-related education initiatives, including the Saudi Esports Academy master’s and diploma programs.

3. Unlocking Exciting Career Opportunities - Naturally, with increased infrastructure and frequent tournaments, skilled staff will be in higher demand than ever before. This opens the door to professionals who are looking for a career full of exciting opportunities!

In 2021 and 2022, many esports organisations and companies fell on hard times as a result of overspending. This period was known as the 'Esports Winter', with one of the largest contributing factors being over-hiring. Sadly, these budgeting errors all came to a head in 2023, with 10,500 jobs being lost across the gaming and esports industry.

Saudi Vision 2030 can help to steer the esports ship back in the right direction, providing financial aid, such as the funds distributed throughout the Club Support Program, alongside new opportunities for esports companies to become profitable year-on-year.

If this new stream of revenue can prevent organisations from becoming financially unsustainable for passionate, wealthy owners, as they have been in the past, it will solidify a stable foundation for the esports industry moving forward.

In conclusion, Vision 2030 is already in motion, with plenty more on the horizon for esports. The Esports World Cup (EWC) has been a huge success thus far, which will act as real motivation for KSA, signifying that they're on track to achieve their goal of establishing the city of Riyadh as the esports capital of the world!