KUWAIT: Kuwait is positioning the video game industry as both a cultural and economic opportunity, as a two-day forum opened Wednesday examining the sector’s growing influence on education, creativity and the digital economy. The forum, titled “Towards a Promising Cultural Future for the Video Game Industry in Kuwait,” is being held at the Arab Open University in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
Speakers at the opening session framed gaming as a fast-growing global industry with local potential. Omaima Al-Saad, founder and director of gaming industry programs at the council, said global video game revenues reached about $197 billion in 2025, with the Middle East and North Africa accounting for $7.1 billion.
She said the sector increasingly relies on technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, allowing developers to create interactive experiences tied to culture and identity. Al-Saad pointed to Arab games that adapt global titles to better reflect regional cultural contexts.
University officials highlighted education and workforce development as central themes. Arab Open University Director Dr Salah Alhammadi said the forum aligns with Kuwait Vision 2035 by supporting the knowledge economy, youth empowerment and innovation.
Aisha Al-Mahmoud
Dr Eisa Al-Harbi
Salah Alhammadi
He said the university has developed three academic programs related to the industry, covering game design, programming and esports, aimed at preparing qualified national talent for what he described as a rapidly expanding sector. Dr Eisa Al-Harbi, dean of the College of Computer Studies, said video games have evolved into an influential economic, cultural and scientific field. He described investment in the industry as an investment in knowledge, noting that gaming is now recognized as an academic discipline at many universities. Al-Harbi said the field offers a wide range of career paths, including programming, graphics, user interface and experience design, audio, virtual and augmented reality development, digital marketing and content creation.
From a cultural perspective, Assistant Secretary General for the Culture Sector at the National Council, Aisha Al-Mahmoud, said the forum reflects a strategic partnership with the university and places Kuwaiti culture within the global digital economy. She said the council is working with partners to support young Kuwaitis in moving from being consumers of technology to creators, and to build an integrated environment that helps local productions reach international audiences.
The forum will continue over two days, with discussions on the scientific, cultural and economic dimensions of video games, as well as their role in education, engineering, digital marketing and in developing skills such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, planning and teamwork. — KUNA
