Economy

Middle East Gaming At A Whole New Level

Published

3 years ago

22/02/2023

The gaming industry in the Middle East is rapidly evolving, putting the region on track to become the gaming industry’s epicenter. According to recent developments, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries are revolutionizing gaming and related technologies faster and more uniquely than most established hotspots, including the United States and Western Europe.

Gaming has become a popular pastime, a social activity, and a source of technology to other e-commerce sectors as a result of the multifaceted revolution. At the current rate of change, the Middle East is poised to become a major player in the global gaming industry.

The Shifting Status of Gambling in the Middle East

In the traditionally religious and conservative Arab world, one of the most notable changes in recent years is the increasing acceptance of gaming. What was once considered a mere leisure pursuit has now become a socially embraced activity, driven in part by the rise of online gaming. Particularly among the younger generation, gaming has become an integral part of daily life, fueling the rapid growth and expansion of the industry in the MENA region.

The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on this change. In the face of social restrictions, curfews, and lockdowns, people sought hobbies and means to socialize. Gaming provided a nearly ideal balance of entertainment and socialization. Despite riding this worldwide wave, as the rest of the world reduced their video gaming activities in the aftermath of the epidemic, the Middle East increased their engagement.

Boosting Governmental Assistance

The Middle East’s relatively new gaming culture is built on the support of supportive governments. Administrative authorities in the Middle East are rising to the challenge of supporting the gaming industry through consistent policy shifts. Government assistance is critical to the growth of the gaming industry. Through various initiatives, most administrations in the region encourage and support participation and spectatorship.

The governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are particularly well-known for their accommodative policies, as they provide existing and aspiring players, gamers, and programmers with access to modern studios. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans in 2022 to produce more than 30 games domestically and create more than 39,000 eSports-related jobs.

Many governments in the Middle East have placed their bets on the gaming industry’s ability to spur economic growth and are working to expand it.

The Middle East is Changing into a Tech Incubator

Gaming technology has been altered throughout the Middle East, and more changes are on the way. The region quickly absorbs gaming technology and contributes to its widespread adoption through mass consumption. Residents in the region have easy access to games via the internet, which has boosted the number of people who play online on trusted sites such as Arabicbet.org. They also consume a significant amount of gaming content through various streaming platforms and social media.

The Middle East is also actively involved in the development and incorporation of new technologies into the gaming industry. Technologies and technological initiatives such as virtual reality and the metaverse are quickly gaining traction among the region’s large gaming population.

The region’s massive gaming demand is also attracting publishers and developers from all over the world. Gaming technology experts are relocating to fast-rising tech hubs like Dubai, and tech firms are establishing offices in the region to capitalize on its potential. With these trends, the Middle East is on track to attract a large number of talented professionals capable of developing better technologies and assisting in the creation and development of the gaming industry’s future.

The Investment Rush

The Middle East has proven a lucrative location for gaming investments. Unlike in other places, investors in this region show no signs of slowing down. For example, Abu Dhabi Gaming is working to attract game developers in order to create a self-sufficient gaming ecosystem in the region.

The situation is similar in other Middle Eastern countries. By 2022, gaming startups had raised more than $16 million through various deals, an increase from $15 million in 2021. Given the attractiveness of the Middle East’s gaming industry, investments are expected to grow further in 2023.

The gaming industry in the Middle East is thriving, as is the video game market in North Africa. Major corporations, including Tencent Games, are establishing operations in the region, and several other international investors are expected to follow suit in the near future. The Middle East’s gaming market is projected to be worth more than $5 billion by 2025.

Final Thoughts

From technology to consumption and investment, the Middle East’s gaming ecosystem is swiftly evolving toward greatness. This is due to a number of growth accelerators acting in the modern industry’s favor. If the growing trend continues, the region may even surpass the United States as the worldwide gaming leader by the end of the decade.

Up Next

Nigeria’s GDP Slows to 3.10% in 2022 Despite 3.52% Growth in Q4

Don't Miss

Australian Sportsbook Fined for Targeting Problem Gambler

Dipo Olowookere

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

1 Comment

Economy

BNB Price Reflects Changing Dynamics in the Digital Asset Market

Published

16 hours ago

25/04/2026

Dipo Olowookere

Digital asset markets have slowed, though not in a dramatic way. Things are still moving, just not with much urgency. The BNB price reflects that shift, sitting within a tighter range as broader conditions begin to shape behavior more than short bursts of demand.

It can feel uneventful at first. No strong push higher, no sharp drop either. But the movement is still there. It just does not travel far. A rise begins, then fades. A dip forms, then steadies again. It repeats more than you might expect.

That pattern tends to linger. Sometimes longer than people anticipate, especially when there is no clear reason for it to change quickly.

BNB Price Movement Reflects Exchange-Driven Demand

BNB does not behave like assets that rely purely on outside demand. Its connection to the Binance ecosystem changes that.

Usage matters here. Trading activity, transaction volume and general platform engagement all feed into how BNB is used. That connection is not always obvious in the short term, but it sits underneath everything.

Sometimes it shows up clearly. Other times it does not. The relationship is there either way.

When activity holds steady, price often follows that tone. It does not surge, but it does not weaken much either. It stays somewhere in the middle, supported without needing strong momentum. It reflects usage more than speculation in many cases.

Market Conditions Continue to Shape Price Behaviour

There is also the wider market to consider. Binance has pointed out that liquidity remains tight, with capital concentrating in a smaller number of assets.

Bitcoin still holds close to 59% of the market. Ethereum sits much lower, around 11.8%. After that, the drop-off becomes more noticeable. Smaller assets make up far less than they once did. That shift matters. It changes how everything moves.

When capital gathers like this, movement tends to compress. Prices still change, but not as freely. It becomes harder for assets to break away from the general pattern.

BNB is part of that. It does not sit outside these conditions. It moves with them more often than against them.

BNB Utility Remains Central to Its Value

There is also the question of utility, which tends to be discussed but not always fully understood.

BNB is used across the Binance ecosystem in practical ways. Fees, transactions, access to services. These are not abstract use cases. They happen regularly, even when markets feel quiet.

That kind of activity does not always push prices higher. But it does create a base level of demand. Something that holds, rather than drives.

Over time, that can matter more than short bursts of interest. It gives the asset a different kind of stability. Not fixed, but less reactive. That difference tends to show up more clearly over longer periods.

Institutional and Retail Activity Remain Balanced

Participation is mixed. Institutional involvement has increased, but it does not dominate. Retail activity is still there and often more visible in certain phases. Neither side controls the market on its own. That is part of why movement feels less defined.

At times, it can seem like different forces are pulling in slightly different directions. Not enough to create volatility, but enough to prevent a clear trend from forming.

So price moves, then pauses. Moves again, then settles. It continues like that, without fully committing to either direction.

Global Participation Continues to Expand

Outside of price, participation continues to grow. Estimates suggest global cryptocurrency users are now approaching 860 million, reflecting continued expansion across digital asset markets.

That kind of growth does not always appear in charts straight away. It builds slowly. People enter the space, others remain active and usage continues in ways that are not always easy to track day to day.

BNB sits within that broader expansion. As the ecosystem grows, so does the potential for continued use. It is not immediate. It rarely is. But it accumulates over time. That gradual build tends to matter more than short-term spikes.

Local Economic Conditions Add Perspective

Broader economic conditions still play a role. Inflation remains around the mid-teen range, which suggests the environment is stabilizing, though not completely settled.

That kind of backdrop tends to influence behavior. When conditions feel uncertain, decisions become more measured.

It does not directly control how BNB moves. But it helps explain the pace. Why do things feel slower, more contained? Markets do not exist in isolation, even when they seem separate. External factors tend to feed in gradually.

Right now, the market feels balanced more than anything else. The B&B price reflects that. Not pushing higher, not dropping away. Just holding.

There is still activity underneath. Usage continues. Participation grows. Liquidity shifts, even if it is not always visible.

For now, BNB is sitting in that middle space. Not doing too much, but not losing ground either. It might not stand out. But these phases tend to matter more than they first seem. Over time, they often shape what comes next, even if that is not immediately obvious.

Economy

NASD Unlisted Security Index Crosses 4,000-point Benchmark Again

Published

18 hours ago

25/04/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange achieved a milestone on Friday, April 24, 2026, after five securities on the platform helped with a 1.85 per cent growth.

Data showed that the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) again crossed the 4,000-point benchmark yesterday.

The index chalked up 73.64 points during the trading day to close at 4,052.59 points compared with the preceding session’s 3,978.95 points, while the market capitalisation added N5.38 billion to finish at N2.424 trillion versus Thursday’s closing value of N2.380 trillion.

The price gainers were led by Okitipupa Plc, which grew by N25.00 to sell at N305.00 per share compared with the previous price of N280.00 per share. Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc gained N6.92 to close at N76.26 per unit versus N69.34 per unit, Afriland Properties Plc appreciated by N1.00 to N17.00 per share from N18.00 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc improved by 55 Kobo to N99.55 per unit from N99.00 per unit, and Food Concepts Plc increased by 5 Kobo to N2.70 per share from N2.65 per share.

However, there was a price loser, MRS Oil, which dipped by N21.75 to N195.75 per unit from N217.50 per unit.

During the final session of the week, the value of securities jumped 75.2 per cent to N41.3 million from N23.6 million units, and the number of deals expanded by 62.9 per cent to 44 deals from 27 deals, while the volume of securities declined marginally by 0.9 per cent to 447,403 units from 451,522 units.

At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc was the most traded stock by volume (year-to-date) with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units traded for N1.2 billion.

GNI was also the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 59.6 million units transacted for N4.0 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units exchanged for N1.9 billion.

Economy

Naira Slips to N1,358/$1 as FX Reserves, Policy Uncertainty Concerns

Published

18 hours ago

25/04/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

It was not a good day for the Nigerian Naira in the currency market on Friday, April 24, as its value depreciated against the major foreign currencies at the close of transactions.

In the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), it lost N4.53 or 0.33 per cent against the United States Dollar yesterday to trade at N1,358.44/$1, in contrast to the N1,353.91/$1 it was exchanged on Thursday.

Equally, the domestic currency slipped against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by N8.14 to close at N1,834.02/£1, compared with the previous rate of N1,825.88/£1 and dropped N8.01 against the Euro to sell at N1,590.73/€1 versus N1,582.72/€1.

Also, the Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the GTBank FX desk on Friday by N4 to quote at N1,370/$1 compared with the previous session’s N1,366/$1, and at the parallel market, it depleted by N5 to settle at N1,380/$1 versus the preceding day’s N1,375/$1.

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicated that NFEM interbank turnover surged to N43.562 million across 68 deals, up from N28.117 million the previous day.

Despite the CBN’s reassurance that the recent drop in external reserves is not worrisome, the market remains unsettled by persistent concerns over liquidity constraints, policy transparency, and weakening confidence in Nigeria’s FX market as gross reserves continue to decline to $48.4 billion.

The outlook for the Dollar appears supported by broader macro risks, including elevated oil prices tied to the tanker traffic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a continued US-Iran standoff over ceasefire negotiations.

A look at the digital currency market showed that investors are sitting on the edge as the US Dollar rebounded amid geopolitical and inflation risks despite continued inflows into US spot bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

Solana (SOL) rose by 1.2 per cent to sell $86.45, Cardano (ADA) appreciated by 1.1 per cent to $0.2517, Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 0.9 per cent to $0.0989, Ripple (XRP) improved by 0.3 per cent to $1.43, Ethereum (ETH) soared by 0.2 per cent to $2,316.83, and Binance Coin (BNB) chalked up 0.1 per cent to sell for $637.44.

However, TRON (TRX) depreciated by 1.3 per cent to $0.3235, and Bitcoin (BTC) lost 0.2 per cent to close at $77,562.27, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 each.