# Why is Saudi Arabia pouring billions into video games?

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund has made a multi-billion-dollar investment in a major video game company. The move is part of the kingdom's strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and expand its influence in the global entertainment industry. This signals how Gulf states are leveraging gaming as a tool for economic and soft power.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Business
- [The Guardian Biz](https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/aug/11/why-did-saudi-arabia-just-spend-billions-on-a-video-games-company-podcast) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:00 GMT