It has been almost a year since our last article discussing the rapid growth of the games industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As the fastest-growing games market globally, with no signs of slowing down, there have been significant changes in the past year.
Let’s take a look at the latest developments in the MENA market and its significance in the context of the global games industry.
According to Newzoo‘s Games Market Report and Forecast, the global market generated $184 billion in revenue in 2023, marking a 0.6% year-over-year growth.
Meanwhile, the MENA region saw a 4.7% revenue increase to $7.1 billion year-over-year during the same period. This market now represents 4.7% of total global revenues.
Looking ahead, Newzoo predicts that global revenues are set to reach $205.4 billion in 2026, potentially placing the MENA market at around $10 billion the following year. This forecast excites us about the future potential of the region.
MENA-3: The Magic Number
Recently, Niko Partners released its third annual MENA-3 video games market report, focusing on the key markets of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt.
The MENA-3 video game market generated $1.92 billion in revenue in 2023, representing a 7.8% year-over-year increase.
– Niko Partners
As per Niko Partners’ findings, the MENA-3 games market achieved $1.92 billion in revenue in the past year, marking a 7.8% year-over-year growth. This growth rate surpasses the general MENA growth reported by Newzoo, making these three countries significant hubs of gaming activity.
This is why we selected Dubai, the most populous city in the UAE, as the venue for our upcoming GameExpo Summit, scheduled for May 1st and 2nd.
Following a successful debut in 2023 with over 1,250 attendees, this two-day gaming industry event will return alongside the Esports and Games Festival at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
In association with the Dubai Economy & Tourism department (DET), the conference will feature over 100 speakers delivering the latest data and trends, providing crucial insights into the growth potential of the MENA market.
You can sign up now to receive notifications when tickets become available.
Smartphones and Esports
Niko Partners’ report highlights that smartphones remain the preferred gaming device in MENA-3, with 87.2% of gamers choosing handheld devices. Mobile gaming also leads in average weekly gaming duration, averaging 8.7 hours.
With over 420 million Arabic speakers globally, Arabic ranks as the 5th most spoken language worldwide. Engaging in the MENA games industry can boost global success for companies.
– Lisa Hanson, Niko Partners
The forecast predicts that MENA-3 revenues will reach $2.65 billion by 2027, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 8.2%.
The total gamer count reached 68.4 million in 2023, showing a 2.9% year-over-year growth. By 2027, this number is expected to reach 79.6 million, with a five-year CAGR of 3.7%.
Niko Partners’ report also emphasizes the strong engagement with esports in the MENA-3 region, with 73% of gamers participating in some form of esports. This engagement is likely to position the region alongside global esports powerhouses like Singapore and China.
“There are over 420 million Arabic speakers globally, making Arabic the 5th most spoken language in the world,” stated Lisa Hanson, CEO and president of Niko Partners.
“Engaging in and paying attention to the MENA games industry can lead to global success for companies as well.”
Noteworthy Companies
Given the impressive growth of the region, we introduced the inaugural PocketGamer.biz Top 30 MENA Game Makers list at the end of 2022. This list considers various factors, from financial performance and downloads to review scores, game quality, innovation, cultural impact, industry impact, and forecasts.
The Top 30 MENA Game Makers list features notable companies like Tamatem, Jawaker, Maysalward, Babil Games, Nine66, and Sandsoft Games, with one of them securing the top spot. But we’ll keep that as a surprise…
Experience it for Yourself!
Building on the success of its debut in 2023, the Dubai GameExpo Summit powered by PG Connects will return on May 1st to 2nd, 2024, alongside the Dubai Esports and Games Festival at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The summit will feature over 100 renowned games industry speakers from around the globe, delivering insightful talks, panels, and seminars across various themed tracks.
For anyone seeking to establish a presence in the region, whether as a developer looking for local publishers or aiming to showcase a MENA game to a global audience, extensive networking opportunities will be available.
Tickets will be released soon, but in the meantime, you can register your interest.
