Saudi Arabia Leads Gaming Revolution at NGSC 2025

The New Global Sport Conference (NGSC 2025) kicked off in Riyadh during the final week of the 2025 Esports World Cup, bringing together industry leaders from sports, esports, gaming, entertainment, technology, and business.

Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the event opened with a powerful panel discussion titled "The Kingdom's Next Era of Play: How Saudi Arabia Is Rewriting the Future of Gaming and Esports."

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Royal Vision Driving Transformation

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal opened the conference by expressing gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unwavering support across all sectors, particularly sports.

He emphasized how Vision 2030 has fundamentally transformed the industry and praised organizers for their remarkable progress since the previous year.

The Minister of Sport highlighted the Kingdom's sports explosion, noting its significant impact on tourism, culture, and quality of life. With 63% of Saudi Arabia's population under 30, the focus on fitness and youth activities has become a national priority.

Remarkably, approximately 20 million Saudis now engage in esports, underscoring the sector's massive growth potential.

Current efforts aim to establish Saudi Arabia as the global esports hub through strategic infrastructure development and comprehensive training programs.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that merging sports, entertainment, and technology creates unprecedented opportunities for Saudi youth while showcasing the Kingdom's rich culture worldwide.

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Strategic Investment in Digital Future

Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih outlined the Public Investment Fund's crucial role in developing gaming and esports as cornerstone elements of Vision 2030's economic transformation.

Drawing a powerful parallel, he described data and technology as "the new oil," positioning gaming as essential to the digital revolution.

Al-Falih emphasized that gaming extends far beyond entertainment, serving as a catalyst for technology advancement, tourism growth, educational innovation, and social development.

This holistic approach reflects the Kingdom's commitment to building a diversified, knowledge-based economy.

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Global Gaming Market Leadership

Communications Minister Abdullah Alswaha highlighted the gaming community's evolution into a major economic force, with over 3.5 billion gamers worldwide.

Under King Salman's leadership, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself among the world's fastest-growing gaming markets through strategic investments and bold initiatives.

Alswaha pointed to success stories like Savvy Group and the international tournaments now hosted by Saudi Arabia as proof of the Kingdom's commitment to not just participate in gaming's future, but actively shape it.

The government actively welcomes global investors while creating opportunities for young Saudi talent, including women, to thrive in this dynamic industry.

World Cup Preparations and Beyond

Looking ahead, preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 exemplify Saudi Arabia's commitment to delivering exceptional tournaments with lasting benefits.

These efforts involve substantial investments in infrastructure and hospitality that will serve the Kingdom long after the final whistle.

The conference highlighted successful international tournaments already hosted under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's guidance, demonstrating Saudi Arabia's growing expertise in world-class event management.

Prince Abdulaziz concluded the opening by affirming that Saudi Arabia can provide a distinguished model for hosting events that reflect the Kingdom's stature while meeting its people's aspirations for the future.

The NGSC 2025 represents more than just a conference—it's a declaration of Saudi Arabia's intention to lead the global gaming and esports revolution while staying true to its cultural values and Vision 2030 objectives.

Source: onearabia

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