$90 per gamer in 2025 puts the UAE among the world’s leaders in gaming monetization
Average revenue per gamer (ARPU) in the United Arab Emirates reached $90 in 2025, ranking among the highest figures on the planet. According to AGBI, this figure places the small Gulf state ahead of most established gaming markets and turns it into a magnet for the interactive entertainment industry.
The figure reflects not only the local audience’s willingness to spend on games, but also the maturity of the digital infrastructure, which enables content monetization at a level out of reach for many larger economies.
The regional market has crossed the $2 billion mark and continues to gain momentum
The combined volume of the gaming markets of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt reached $2 billion in 2024. Forecasts point to growth of up to $2.8 billion by 2029, representing an increase of around 40% over five years.
The trajectory signals an acceleration of the industry in a region where, just a decade ago, gaming was considered a niche pastime. Today, the Gulf is shaping one of the fastest-growing segments of the global gaming economy.
The UAE and its neighbors surpass Japan and South Korea in revenue per gamer
The scale of the gap between Gulf countries and traditional Asian gaming giants is striking. Average revenue per gamer breaks down as follows:
- UAE — $90
- Saudi Arabia — $60
- South Korea — just over $30
- Japan — nearly $11
This contrast explains why global investors and regional governments view the Gulf as a territory with exceptional return-on-investment potential in the gaming industry.
Youth, wealth, and high-speed internet as fuel for the industry
The rapid growth of gaming in the region rests on a set of factors, each of which reinforces the others:
- High household income levels that allow spending on digital entertainment without significant pressure on personal budgets
- A young demographic structure, with a substantial share of residents belonging to generations that grew up with a controller in hand
- Targeted government support for the sector, including tax incentives and strategic programs
- Widespread availability of high-speed internet, removing technical barriers to online and cloud gaming
The combined effect of these conditions creates an environment in which gaming monetization occurs faster and more deeply than in many established markets.
Saudi Arabia has made gaming part of its national strategy
In Saudi Arabia, industry growth is driven not only by market forces but also by direct government initiatives. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has publicly positioned himself as a gamer, and this personal interest sets the political tone for the entire sector.
Such a stance from the country’s top leader has effectively legitimized large-scale investment in a sector that, until recently, was viewed with suspicion by a conservative society. Gaming is now embedded in the kingdom’s economic diversification agenda alongside tourism and sport.
Savvy Games Group is turning ambitions into real acquisitions
The practical embodiment of these ambitions is Savvy Games Group, the investment arm of the sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF). The group is pursuing a majority stake in EA Games, the publisher of the iconic franchises FIFA and Grand Theft Auto.
Savvy Games Group also already owns Scopely, the company behind the phenomenally successful mobile game Pokémon Go. These deals clearly demonstrate how sovereign investment translates strategic interest in the gaming market into concrete acquisitions on a global scale.
What to expect from the market in 2026
The results of 2025 already suggest that 2026 figures will be no less compelling. The regional audience is growing not only in size but also in the diversity of its tastes. Alongside major franchises and mobile hits, free giveaways on digital storefronts, promotions, and contemporary bonus-driven games that allow gamers to expand their libraries without heavy spending are gaining popularity. Demand for such formats shows that the market is maturing and learning to retain gamers through varied means, not just direct purchases.
With government support, a young audience, and sovereign wealth fund capital behind it, the UAE’s gaming industry clearly has significant prospects, and the $90-per-gamer figure may well prove to be only an interim milestone.
