2.4 Million Video Game Consoles Imported into the Kingdom in Two Years

The video game sector in the Kingdom has witnessed remarkable growth over the past two years, with video game console imports during 2024 and 2025 totaling 2.42 million units, according to data issued by the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA).

The data indicated that 2024 saw the import of 1.74 million units, with customs procedures completed through 4,861 customs declarations. To date, imports during 2025 have reached 684,489 units, with customs procedures completed through 1,613 customs declarations. The authority indicated that the top five countries from which it imported in 2024 were: China, followed by Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. In 2025, China also topped the list of suppliers, followed by the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Regarding digital infrastructure, the “Saudi Internet 2024” report issued by the Communications and Space Technology Commission recorded a significant improvement in the response time rate for the most popular video games by 88%, along with increased performance levels and download speeds across various platforms. The report showed clear differences between the genders’ usage rates, with the percentage of smart device use among females reaching 28.5% compared to 21% among males, while PlayStation devices reached 30.2% among males compared to 15.1% among females. The data also showed that smart devices were the leading platform with 24.2% of the total users, followed by PlayStation devices with 23.8%, Xbox with 2.8%, Nintendo Switch with 0.9%, and Steam with 0.8%. The report indicated that PlayStation topped the list of games used by the 10-19 age group, with 54.8% of the users, while electronic devices topped the list for the remaining age groups, 20-29, with 30.8%, followed by the 30-39 age group, with 23.8%, followed by the 40-49 age group, with 15.3%, 8.7% for the 50-59 age group, and 5% for the 60-74 age group.

The report also revealed the most downloaded electronic games on smart devices in the Kingdom, with Whiteout Survival coming in first place, followed by Roblox in second place, Subway Surfers in third place, PUBG Mobile in fourth place, and Garena Free Fire in fifth place. These indicators confirm that the Kingdom has become a leading regional and international destination for hosting major eSports events, supported by its technical infrastructure and ongoing investments in the sector, as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote digital industries. The World Cup for Electronic Sports is currently being held in the capital, Riyadh, during the period from (July 7 – August 24, 2025 AD). Its second edition this year is witnessing record numbers and wide international participation, with the presence of more than (2,000) players representing (200) teams belonging to more than (100) countries around the world, competing for prizes exceeding (70) million dollars, through (25) tournaments covering (24) electronic games. The event consolidates the Kingdom’s position as a global destination for games, electronic sports and entertainment in this sector in terms of size, innovative systems, pioneering content, and interactive audience experiences, so that electronic games become a global sport, with more than (3.4) billion people around the world participating in its activities regularly. The number of viewers of electronic sports in the world reached more than (574) million global viewers in the year (2024 AD), and is expected to reach more than (640) million viewers by the year (2027 AD). The tournament’s stimulating effect has boosted the local economy by increasing demand for hardware and platforms, stimulating sales at stores and suppliers, and creating new investment opportunities in digital broadcasting, event organization, and e-marketing, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for the video game industry.