The policy text outlines the ambitious vision and strategies of the Saudi Esports Federation to establish Saudi Arabia as a global powerhouse in gaming and esports by 2025. The discussions during WAVES 2025 Sessions, held in Mumbai, highlight key components such as youth-driven policies, strategic investments, and international collaborations that aim to create an ecosystem for sustainable growth in the sector.
The text emphasizes several initiatives, including:
1. The Saudi Esports Academy which provides comprehensive training opportunities across various fields (coaching, event production, game development) aimed at fostering young professionals' careers.
2. Landmark events like Gamers Without Borders and hosting of the Esports World Cup have positioned Saudi Arabia as a key player in international gaming competition.
3. Supporting content creators to build an industry based on community engagement and cross-border collaboration.
The session also covers how media, technology, and storytelling are reshaping global sports and esports landscapes with advancements like immersive feeds, fantasy gaming, AI-driven personalized content, and accessible features such as sign language commentary.
Cricketer Ravi Shastri shares insights on the transformation of sports and media through technology enhancement. He highlights the growth in fan engagement and athlete branding facilitated by technological improvements.
Overall, the tone is professional with an objective focus on describing initiatives led by Saudi Arabia towards a global gaming sector revolution, backed by robust policy decisions targeting youth empowerment, community development, inclusive technologies, and international partnerships.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information Broadcasting: A governmental department overseeing information, communication, and broadcasting policies.
WAVES 2025 Sessions: An initiative focused on exploring innovations in sports and technology as part of the Saudi Arabian esports development.
Saudi Esports Federation: A governing body for esports in Saudi Arabia, responsible for implementing strategies to reshape the global esports landscape.
Gaming Esports: The focus area of the Saudi Esports Federation, aiming at transforming Saudi Arabia into a leading hub for gaming and esports innovation.
Saudi Gaming Growth: A strategic growth sector in Saudi Arabia, targeting sustainability in the gaming industry with youth-driven policies, investments, and global partnerships.
Gamers Without Borders: A landmark event mentioned, suggesting Saudi Arabia is preparing to host significant gaming competitions to position itself as a key player globally.
Esports World Cup: Another international competition hosted by Saudi Arabia, highlighting its ambition in global sports and technology events.
Saudi Esports Academy: An institution that provides training across various fields related to gaming, including coaching, event production, game development, enabling career pathways for professionals in the Saudi esports ecosystem.
Ravi Shastri: A cricketing icon and commentator who served as a guest speaker during WAVES 2025 discussions on sports technology.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
WAVES 2025 Sessions Explore Innovations in
Sports and Technology
Saudi Arabia’s Esports Ambitions Spotlighted at
WAVES 2025
Vision, Investment and Innovation Drive Saudi
Gaming Growth
“Media and tech today are like a helmet in your
kit—essential:” Ravi Shastri at WAVES 2025
Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 8:27PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 2 May 2025
Day 2 of WAVES 2025 in Mumbai featured two forward-looking discussions on the future of sports and esports,
with particular focus on how media, technology, and storytelling are reshaping global engagement.
Gaming Revolution: A Bold Vision for the Future
In a high-impact fireside chat titled “Building a Global Powerhouse: Saudi Arabia’s Vision for Gaming & Esports”,
HE Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, presented the Kingdom’s
sweeping plans to redefine the global esports landscape. The session, moderated by Girish Menon, Chief
Strategy Officer at Jetsynthesys, explored how the Kingdom’s youth-driven policies, strategic investments, and
global partnerships are transforming Saudi Arabia into an emerging hub for gaming and esports innovation.
With over 67% of its population identifying as gamers, Saudi Arabia is cultivating an ecosystem designed for long-
term sustainability. From landmark events such as Gamers Without Borders to the hosting of the Esports World
Cup, the country is positioning itself at the forefront of international competition.The cornerstone of this vision is the Saudi Esports Academy which provides training across a range of
fields—coaching, event production, game development—creating meaningful career pathways for young
professionals. The Federation's efforts are also supporting the rise of content creators, fostering an inclusive and
scalable industry built on community engagement and cross-border collaboration.
HE Faisal emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s goal extends beyond tournaments. “This is about opportunity creation,
ecosystem development, and showcasing what’s possible when a country aligns resources, vision, and talent,” he
said. As the discussion revealed, the Kingdom’s approach could well shape global gaming trends over the coming
decade.
The Changing Face of Sports: Media, Technology and Human Connection
Earlier in the day, a dynamic panel on “Sports, Technology, Entrepreneurship & Media – The REAL STEM”
brought together voices from across the sports ecosystem. The session was moderated by producer and
entrepreneur Dheer Momaya and featured cricketing icon Ravi Shastri alongside Prashant Khanna (Jiostar),
Nullah Sarker (Kosmos), Vikrant Mudaliar (Dream Sports), and Dhaval Ponda (Tata Communications).
Ravi Shastri shared his insights on cricket’s transformation through media and technology. “Media and tech today
are like a helmet in your kit—essential,” he remarked, reflecting on how fan engagement and athlete branding
have grown. He described his own journey as “a wave”—symbolic of both personal highs and the broader
evolution of the sport.
Panelists pointed to technological advances such as immersive feeds, fantasy gaming, and AI-driven content
personalization as tools reshaping how fans connect with sports. Vikrant Mudaliar underlined how fantasy
platforms have turned audiences from passive viewers into active participants. Prashant Khanna highlighted
inclusivity tools like sign language commentary and custom visual feeds.Nullah Sarker stressed the importance of storytelling: “Fans don’t just follow stats—they follow people.” Echoing
this, Dhaval Ponda noted how live sports remain the soul of global content consumption, with technology now
enabling custom viewing experiences.
The session concluded with Shastri expressing optimism: “The future of sports, tech and media is limitless. We’re
only just getting started.”
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