Saudi Arabia has recently received a lot of attention, particularly in the sports and entertainment sectors. Last summer, for example, the heavyweight professional boxing battle between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua was held at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. In January, Al Nassr, a Saudi soccer powerhouse, recruited superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, effectively elevating the Saudi Pro League to a whole new level.
In addition to traditional sports, Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in eSports. In fact, the country has become one of the most important gaming hubs in the Middle East, second only to the UAE. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has considerably higher objectives for eSports than simply being a regional leader; the country aspires to be the top eSports destination in the world.
It is estimated that approximately 90% of Saudis enjoy video games. In this article, we’ll look at which games Saudi eSports players are playing.
FIFA Football
Given the country’s history with soccer, it’s no surprise that FIFA is the most popular game among Saudi gamers. It has been the most popular sport in this part of the world for decades, but its popularity has risen in recent years, particularly for Saudi Arabia, given its World Cup performance in 2022. Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina, which went on to win the tournament, in what was possibly the biggest upset of the competition.
The success of the Saudi national soccer team made people around the kingdom obsess over soccer even more. Naturally, this increased FIFA’s popularity, which is not surprising given that this is the world’s most popular soccer simulation game.
Then, just a few weeks later, Saudi football fans had another reason to celebrate. Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest in a long line of foreign stars to relocate to Riyadh. His arrival has boosted the Saudi league’s appeal among soccer fans and bettors alike. This surge in interest has been reflected in increased activity at arabic-casinos.org‘s online sportsbooks. In addition, the Saudi eSportsPro League is taking part in the EA SPORTS FIFA 23 tournament this year.
Despite the fact that FIFA is extremely popular in this country, Saudi eSports players have not had much success in this discipline. In reality, other games, such as Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, PUBG, and Fortnite, have proven to be more rewarding for professional Saudi gamers.
Highest-Earning Gamers Prefer Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege has awarded Saudi eSports participants just shy of $1.4 million. This is the game that six of Saudi Arabia’s top 15 highest-earning games play. AbdulMohsen “Okilz” Saloum, the most successful Rainbow Six Siege player in the country, has made more than $130,000 playing this game.
Rakan “Madskills,” Mohammed “MSSS” Alghamdi is just behind him and has earned more than $100,000 in eSports. Aldossay “MSdossary7” Mossad, the highest-earning eSports player living in Saudi Arabia, has earned more than $640,000.
Nonetheless, they are far from the highest-earning Saudi player, Cuyler “Huke” Garland, who has earned just under $750,000 from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Still, dubbing Huke the greatest Saudi eSports athlete would be inappropriate given that the Saudi-born player now lives in the United States.
Saudi eSports Has Government’s Full Support
The Saudi government has already formed alliances with a number of renowned firms, such as Riot Games and Anubis Gaming. The country has also collaborated with game producers to build a better infrastructure for Saudi players. Activision Publishing, Inc., for example, has collaborated with the Saudi Telecom Company to introduce Call of Duty servers to improve connectivity among COD players in this region. Saudi Arabia’s government has also purchased a number of significant video game businesses, notably SNK Playmore (95% stake) and Nintendo (5% stake).
Final Thoughts
Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in the sports and entertainment industries, with a particular focus on eSports. The country has become a hub for gaming in the Middle East, and its players are gaining recognition on the international stage. The Saudi government has demonstrated its support for eSports, forming alliances with renowned firms and collaborating with game producers to improve infrastructure and connectivity for players. As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in eSports, it aspires to become the top eSports destination in the world.
