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�������� has emerged as the Middle East and North Africa’s largest digital economy, with a market value exceeding SR495 billion ($132 billion) over the past few years. Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s Internet of Things market specifically is estimated to grow 12-18 percent year-on-year to reach a market size of SR25.8 billion, reflecting the technologically progressive approach that �������� has taken to building the country’s future. The Kingdom also ranks first among the top three Arab countries in smart city investments and leads the Arab world in the Government AI Readiness Index as well as the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index.
Global investments in IoT are forecast to exceed SR4.5 trillion by 2026, and in the Middle East and North Africa, the IoT market is projected to reach SR90 billion by the same year.

As the region’s largest IoT market, Riyadh is set to host the Global Internet of Things Congress 2025 on Oct. 21. The three-day event — the largest dedicated IoT event in the Kingdom and the wider MENA region — will put the Saudi capital in the spotlight as a regional powerhouse of emerging IoT technologies.
More than 200 prominent exhibitors and speakers ranging from industries like IoT, artificial intelligence, smart cities, energy, healthcare, and other emerging technologies, are expected from all over the world to address over 5,000 high-profile attendees such as industry leaders, C-level businesspeople and governmental stakeholders.
The Congress, organized by the Internet of Things Association, is set to host public entities, academic institutions, private companies, investors, entrepreneurs, and media representatives from all over the world. This landmark event will feature keynote sessions, interactive workshops, a technology exhibition, and strategic partnership announcements.
Abdullah bin Salem Al-Bedaiwy, chairman of the board at the IoTA, said: “As a nonprofit organization, the association is committed to development and innovation, encouraging investment, enhancing local content, and increasing localization within the IoT sector. Our initiative aims to launch a global IoT platform in its largest market, the Kingdom of ��������. We extend our sincere gratitude to all our partners who contributed to making this vision a reality, and we look forward to the support of both the public and private sectors to ensure the success of this global event on Saudi soil.”
He added: “As a nonprofit organization, the IoTA is committed to fostering innovation and advancing both human and technological capital in the IoT sector. Our vision is to host the region’s largest dedicated IoT event in its biggest market, the Kingdom of ��������. We extend our sincere gratitude to all our partners who have contributed to making this possible, and we look forward to the support of both the public and the private sector, to ensure the success of this global gathering in ��������.”

Global Internet of Things Congress 2025 will cultivate cross-border and cross-sector knowledge exchange, drive innovation, and unlock investment opportunities, aligned with the objectives of digital transformation in ��������’s Vision 2030.

�������� is fast becoming a powerhouse in global gaming. The Esports World Cup 2025 featuring a record-breaking $70 million prize pool and 24 official game titles underscores this shift from niche to mainstream gaming prominence. Under Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, the Kingdom’s gaming and esports sector is expected to contribute $13.3 billion to GDP and generate more than 39,000 jobs by 2030. With 21 million gamers across the country and $1.1 billion in annual revenue, the groundwork for a thriving, sustainable digital economy is already taking shape.
But sustaining this growth requires more than investment and infrastructure. It requires building meaningful ecosystems where creators, communities, and intellectual property thrive together. That’s the shared focus of Bigo Live and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, who are working together to define the next chapter of esports in the region.
Bigo Live and MLBB have partnered on multiple successful events, including livestreaming the M6 World Championship and the MPL MENA 2025. The M6 event drew more than 4.13 million peak viewers globally, with an average of 709,000 viewers across 120 hours of live broadcast, making it one of MLBB’s most-watched tournaments to date.
The collaboration is now evolving into something more ambitious: a blueprint for hybrid esports experiences. These new formats combine physical and virtual elements, such as pro-player and streamer crossover leagues, offline community events, and gamified, storyline-driven tournaments designed to engage audiences across platforms and locations.
Bigo Live has reported a 19.05 percent month-on-month increase in new gaming users in MENA, indicating strong regional resonance with its esports programming.

Crucially, Bigo Live’s esports strategy is anchored in a framework of creator enablement: supporting streamers with tools, infrastructure, and monetization options that make esports a sustainable path. Its three-tier approach (Support, Belonging, and Appreciation) aligns with Vision 2030’s goals of digital transformation and cultural enrichment.