Video Games Overtake Streaming as the Largest Digital Media Spending Sector in the Middle East: Study
A recent analytical study conducted by Jalal & Karawi Management Consulting, in collaboration with Orient Planet Group, has revealed that the video game industry has become the largest consumer spending segment within digital media across the Middle East, surpassing the combined value of video-on-demand and digital music services. The findings highlight a profound shift in digital consumption patterns across the region.
The study’s results were announced during Media Z, an event recently organized by the Dubai Media Academy in collaboration with the Canadian University Dubai.
According to the study, total consumer spending on video games in the three key markets analyzed—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt—reached approximately $2.52 billion in 2024. This compares with $1.16 billion spent on video-on-demand services and $306.7 million on digital music. As a result, video games accounted for 63.2% of total consumer spending on digital media across these markets.
The analysis was based on reliable and well-established data sources, including Statista and DataReportal, along with key partners such as GSMA Intelligence and Similarweb. The study focused on spending patterns across video gaming, video-on-demand, and digital music services in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, with all figures representing full-year 2024 estimates supported by verified market data and year-on-year comparisons.