Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia has approved the inclusion of electronic gaming in school curricula across all education levels. The initiative combines both competitive esports and educational gaming elements, marking a new phase in the Kingdom’s efforts to align education with digital transformation and emerging industries.
The move formalises gaming as part of structured learning and reflects a broader international trend recognising game-based learning as a tool for developing modern skills.
The decision follows the signing of three memorandums of understanding between the Ministry of Education, the National Institute for Educational Development, the Educational Services Development Company and Savvy Games Group, a state-owned company under the Public Investment Fund.
Under the agreements, authorities will work to:
Embed gaming-related knowledge and digital competencies into school curricula
Develop national esports competitions and innovation challenges
Create structured training pathways to nurture local talent in the gaming industry
Collaborate with the National Curriculum Center to align gaming content with academic standards
Upskill teachers to effectively deliver game-based learning modules
Local media reports indicate that the initiative will also focus on designing educational games and building educator capacity to integrate gaming concepts into classroom instruction.
Saudi Arabia’s policy mirrors global experimentation with esports and game-based education. Schools in countries such as the United States, Wales and Japan have introduced structured gaming programs aimed at improving student engagement, teamwork and critical thinking skills.
Research into game-based learning models suggests that well-designed programs can support the development of:
Strategic thinking and problem-solving
Collaboration and communication skills
Leadership and decision-making abilities
Digital literacy and systems thinking
Education experts note that gaming, when integrated within an academic framework, can complement traditional subjects such as mathematics, science and language studies.
The initiative also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification strategy. The Kingdom’s gaming market already includes millions of players and generates significant annual revenue. By formalising gaming education, authorities aim to prepare students for careers in:
Game design and development
Esports management
Digital media and content creation
Cybersecurity and related technology sectors
Planned measures include the development of gaming labs and innovation hubs within technical and vocational institutions, offering students practical, industry-linked experience.
The Ministry of Education has begun the rollout process, focusing initially on pilot programs, curriculum design and teacher training. Officials have indicated that gaming modules are intended to complement existing academic subjects rather than replace them.
As implementation progresses, further details on curriculum structure and assessment methods are expected to be released.
