A strategic step towards the economy of the future
In a historic move aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Ministry of Education announced the signing of three strategic memoranda of understanding with the "Safi Electronic Games Group," wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund. This partnership aims to systematically integrate the electronic games and esports industry into all levels of education, from general education to university and technical and vocational training, in addition to launching specialized scholarship programs to develop national talent in this vital sector.
The agreements were signed in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Safi” Group, His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef Al-Bunyan, and a number of senior officials from both sides, at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Riyadh.
General context: Investing in the passion of youth
This initiative is a practical implementation of the National Strategy for Gaming and Esports launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aims to make the Kingdom a global hub for the sector by 2030. The Saudi leadership recognizes that the Kingdom has one of the youngest populations in the world, with gamers comprising a significant percentage of the population. Rather than viewing esports as merely a hobby, the Kingdom seeks to transform this passion into an economic and knowledge-based engine by building an integrated system that begins in classrooms and extends to the global job market.
Dimensions of the partnership and its expected impact
The memoranda of understanding are based on several key pillars to ensure the development of a generation capable of competing and innovating in the gaming industry:
- Curriculum development: Work will be done with the National Curriculum Center to include the concepts of designing and developing electronic games within the school curriculum, giving students a solid knowledge base at an early age.
- Developing national talent: Specialized tracks in the field of games will be created within the “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program” and the “Promising” track, to prepare Saudi experts, developers and designers in the best international universities.
- Teacher Professional Development: In collaboration with the National Institute for Educational Professional Development, teachers will be trained on innovative teaching methods based on gamification and the use of artificial intelligence and simulation to enhance the educational experience.
- Building a supportive infrastructure: The partnership includes the establishment of the “Safi Games and Innovation Lab” and the development of specialized educational games on the “My School” platform, in addition to the accreditation of the “Safi Academy” within the strategic partnership institutes of the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training.
Economic and future importance
Domestically, this move is expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs for Saudi youth, reduce reliance on foreign expertise, and boost GDP in line with economic diversification goals. Regionally, it positions Saudi Arabia as a leader in digital and innovative education, offering a model for other countries in the region to emulate. Internationally, the Kingdom sends a strong message to investors and global companies that it is not merely a large consumer market, but has become a fertile ground for talent development and content creation, enhancing its attractiveness as a destination for investment in creative and technological industries.
