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Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Sector Is Quickly Gathering Momentum
Around 3,000 locals already attend Gamers8, an 8-week eSports festival in Riyadh, with a tournament prize pool of $45 million.
Saudi Arabian locals make no secret of their passion for video games and eSports, with even Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rumored to be an avid Call of Duty player.
Last year, the Saudi royal announced a $38-billion investment strategy for the Kingdom’s Savvy Games Group, which is owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund.
Meanwhile, as Gamers8 — an eight-week eSports festival in Riyadh with 3,000 attendees — gathers momentum, the government is increasingly emphasizing local game production, hoping to turn Saudi Arabia into “an Eden for game developers” with homegrown titles promoting Arabic culture.
“In the past, Arabs were only buying games, not developing games. Now, there is an opportunity to develop games, design your own ideas, and make them a reality according to local customs and traditions,” explained developer Mohammed Al Fakih.
Two-thirds of the non-immigrant population of Saudi Arabia is aged under 30, making the country an important player in the world video game market. In addition, some 25,000 domestic and foreign developers are currently working to find the winning formula that will help a locally-produced title break out on the world stage.
“With the expertise coming from outside and the knowledge being transferred, we will soon notice some games that can really take off internationally,” said Faisal bin Homran, chief eSports officer at the Saudi Esports Federation.
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Saudi Arabia’s national strategy has even more ambitious dreams: By 2030, officials hope that 30 globally competitive games will have been produced in domestic studios.
News
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
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