Latest news with #SavvyGamesGroup
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Savvy Group to train KAU students in games and esports
Savvy Games Group, a Public Investment Fund company driving the growth of games and esports in Saudi Arabia, and King Abdulaziz University have signed a memorandum of understanding to offer specialized diplomas in games production and esports management to students. The collaboration will equip Saudi students with high-impact skills to help them pursue careers in the fast-growing games and esports industries. This MoU lays the groundwork for a strategic partnership between Savvy and KAU, with a shared vision to develop national talent and empower the next generation of professionals in Saudi Arabia's games and esports industry. The two diplomas — Games Production and Esports Management — will launch in the upcoming academic year. Launching in the upcoming academic year, the two diplomas — Games Production and Esports Management — will provide high-quality learning to students, blending academic education with practical, industry-driven expertise. By enrolling into these programs, students will gain core competencies in managing game development projects and organizing professional esports events — two vital fields that are shaping the future of entertainment, technology, and digital experiences. 'This partnership with King Abdulaziz University is a key step in building local capabilities in game development and esports operations,' said Majed Al-Muhanna, chief human resources officer at Savvy. 'This is part of our Savvy Academy initiative, through which we are enabling new pathways for the next generation of Saudi professionals to gain the skills and experience required to succeed and be a leader in this industry. Our work directly supports the National Gaming and Esports Strategy and Vision 2030's ambition of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global hub for games and esports.' Prof. Mohammed Balubaid, dean of the Applied College, added: 'This partnership with Savvy underscores our commitment to equipping students for careers in rapidly growing industries aligned with Vision 2030. As gaming and esports expand at an unprecedented pace, there's a rising demand for talent that combines creative insight with operational excellence. Through this collaboration, students are expected to be exposed to real-world opportunities such as potentially supporting major international events like the Esports World Cup hosted in Saudi Arabia. We're proud to offer our students these pathways and contribute to shaping the Kingdom's digital future.' The MoU is part of Savvy Academy's Level-Up program that is designed to provide vocational training in games and esports to university students in Saudi Arabia by partnering with renowned educational institutions.
Zawya
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
Savvy Games Group and King Abdulaziz University partner to launch training program in Games and Esports
JEDDAH: Savvy Games Group ('Savvy'), Saudi Arabia's National Champion for Games and Esports, and King Abdulaziz University, one of Saudi Arabia's largest universities, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer specialized diplomas in Games Production and Esports Management to students. The collaboration aims to equip Saudi students with high-impact skills that would help them pursue careers in the fast-growing games and esports industries. This MoU lays the groundwork for a strategic partnership between Savvy and King Abdulaziz University, with a shared vision to develop national talent and empower the next generation of professionals in Saudi Arabia's games and esports industry. Launching in the upcoming academic year, the two diplomas for Games Production, and Esports Management, will provide high-quality learning to students, blending academic education with practical, industry-driven expertise. By enrolling into these programs, students will gain core competencies in managing game development projects and organizing professional esports events — two vital fields that are shaping the future of entertainment, technology, and digital experiences. 'This partnership with King Abdulaziz University is a key step in building local capabilities in game development and esports operations,' said Majed Al-Muhanna, Chief Human Resources Officer at Savvy. 'This is part of our Savvy Academy initiative, through which we are enabling new pathways for the next generation of Saudi professionals to gain the skills and experience required to succeed and be a leader in this industry. Our work directly supports the National Gaming and Esports Strategy and Vision 2030's ambition of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global hub for games and esports.' Prof. Mohammed Balubaid, Dean of the Applied College, commented: 'This partnership with Savvy underscores our commitment to equipping students for careers in rapidly growing industries aligned with the Vision 2030. As gaming and esports expand at an unprecedented pace, there's a rising demand for talent that combines creative insight with operational excellence. Through this collaboration, students are expected to be exposed to real-world opportunities such as potentially supporting major international events like the Esports World Cup hosted in Saudi Arabia. We're proud to offer our students these pathways and contribute to shaping the Kingdom's digital future.' The MoU is part of Savvy Academy's Level-Up program that is designed to provide vocational training in games and esports to university students in Saudi Arabia by partnering with renowned educational institutions. About Savvy Games Group Savvy Games Group ('Savvy') was formed with a mission to drive long-term growth and innovation in the games and esports industry. Backed by its shareholder, the Public Investment Fund, Savvy deploys capital over long-term horizons through acquisitions, investments, and business ventures. By expanding its portfolio and growing the games and esports ecosystem, it is shaping the future of the sector on a global scale. As Saudi Arabia's National Champion for Games and Esports, Savvy is also focused on developing the sector's domestic ecosystem. About King Abdulaziz University King Abdulaziz University (KAU), located in Jeddah, is a leading academic institution in Saudi Arabia, known for excellence in education, research, and national contribution. The university plays a critical role in developing foundational and interdisciplinary skills that prepare students for evolving professional landscapes. KAU actively engages with industry partners to drive innovation and support Vision 2030 development goals.
Zawya
22-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Etihad Salam Telecom Company hosts first regional Riot Games Server in Saudi Arabia
Announcement represents significant technical milestone for Etihad Salam, spotlighting its network quality and robust infrastructure as well as leadership and commitment to enhancing the kingdom's digital infrastructure. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Etihad Salam Telecom Company, a leading provider of telecommunications services in Saudi Arabia, will host the first official regional game server for Riot Games in Saudi Arabia. The cutting-edge facility supports popular titles such as League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics, significantly improving the gaming experience across Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Saudi Arabia's gaming market, valued at over USD 1.8 billion and comprising more than 23.5 million gamers, is rapidly expanding as part of the Vision 2030 strategy. The government, through the Savvy Games Group backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is investing USD 38 billion to turn the country into a global gaming hub. This includes building world-class esports infrastructure and fostering partnerships with notable publishers like Riot Games. With Etihad Salam being crowned as the Fastest Internet Provider in the Kingdom for the third year in a row by Ookla, hosting the game server for Riot Games aligns with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's Content Localization Initiative and its efforts to engage youth and position Saudi Arabia as a leader in esports and online gaming on a regional scale. Abdullah Alrufaidi, Acting Vice President, Sales and Carrier Relations at Etihad Salam Telecom Company, said: "We are thrilled to reach this milestone for both Etihad Salam and the Kingdom's gaming community. The server is set to be a game-changer, empowering players with unparalleled gameplay experience and highlighting our commitment to fostering a digital-first future in the region." The successful deployment of the first official regional game server by Etihad Salam promises a new era for eSports and gaming enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. Players can now enjoy markedly improved connectivity, reduced latency, and a smoother, more stable gaming environment that fosters a highly competitive atmosphere. Etihad Salam anticipates this to be a catalyst for further technological growth and innovation, reaffirming its leadership within the sector. About Etihad Salam Telecom Company Etihad Salam Telecom Company is one of the leading national companies in Saudi Arabia's telecommunications and information technology sector. Recognized as the Kingdom's fastest-growing and most innovative telecom brand, Salam has operated one of the region's most established telecom networks since 2005. The company provides cutting-edge ICT solutions for businesses, government entities, and carriers locally and internationally, along with fixed and mobile services supporting Saudi Arabia's digital transformation. As a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, Salam offers advanced telecommunications, cloud computing, data centers, and digital infrastructure. Its subsidiaries, Salam Mobile Telecom Company and Technical Links Services (TLS) ensure the delivery of innovative solutions and seamless connectivity across the Kingdom.
Arab News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
PIF-backed Savvy Games partners with Side to nurture gaming ecosystem in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: PIF-backed Savvy Games Group has partnered with gaming service provider Side to open a physical studio in Riyadh later this year to further support Saudi Arabia's growing gaming ecosystem. The collaboration was cemented at a signing event earlier on Thursday at Side's London studio. Nika Nour, head of global business development at Savvy Games Group, told Arab News: 'There is no better partner than people like Side who have actually opened offices in other regions of the world, not just in Western countries like Europe or North America. 'They have the experiences and the tools to actually increase services, to train up local talent, and enter communities and understand cultural nuances to forge partnerships, not just for the short term, but beyond 2030, and that's why we're very excited about this strategic initiative.' This is a step in expanding Side's global footprint to 20 studios across 14 countries, providing services that range from co-development, player support, quality assurance (QA), localization QA, and audio. Their work in Saudi Arabia will be a tailored approach to the country's needs, initially by offering co-dev, localization and local audio recording services. Jacob Madsen, London studio head and VP of EMEA at Side, told Arab News: 'From a company point of view, we're always looking to expand into new markets. We're always looking to try and have a diverse workforce, so that was also something that was really interesting to me. Over the four months, we've been kind of developing a relationship between Side and Savvy.' Savvy prides itself on its three pillars as a holdings entity at PIF: Investments in MMA games, efforts on e-sports, as noted regionally with the Esports World Cup, and most importantly, moving forward and progressing on Saudi's national Vision 2030 initiative of gaming ecosystem development. The studio will also aim to provide youth training programs and strengthen local institutions, including collaboration with local partners such as Full Sail University, to nurture homegrown talent in co-development, localization and QA. 'What we tend to do when we open up a studio is very much work with the local population,' Madsen explained. 'We try to bring in as few seniors or employees of other studios and hire the men and women of the country that we're in. We are talking to Savvy about how we can connect to any existing university or training programs, whether we can bring down some of our experts — but we will also very much be training the people that we hire for the services that we'll be providing.' Savvy Academy, the company's flagship initiative, focuses on incubation, acceleration and training with university relationships. They have also been collaborating with the International Game Developers Association's Riyadh chapter, which has a talent pool of more than 200 individuals in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh. 'We have great relationships with universities that we plan on imploring, working with, to bring these experts not only to the classrooms, but also figure out how we get them from graduation into professional careers,' Nour said. The studio is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Broadcast Pro
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Savvy partners with PNU to launch Game Art training programme for women
The Game Art training programme is jointly developed between Savvy and Applied College in PNU and is expected to start in September 2025 Savvy Games Group, Saudi Arabia's national champion for games and esports, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Applied College at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), the women's university, to launch a specialised Game Art training programme. Set to begin in September 2025, the initiative aims to equip students with world-class skills in video game development, including concept design, 3D modelling, animation and interactive storytelling. The programme is jointly developed by Savvy and the Applied College at PNU and blends academic rigour with practical industry knowledge to meet international standards. The goal is to prepare students for successful careers in the rapidly expanding global gaming industry, with a particular focus on nurturing local female talent. Speaking about the MoU, Majed Al-Muhanna, Chief Human Resources Officer of Savvy Games Group, said: 'Our collaboration with Applied College in Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University represents another major step in developing Saudi Arabia's games industry and offering new opportunities to the aspiring students and youth who want to pursue careers in this growing sector. This partnership is part of the Savvy Academy, our key initiative dedicated to talent development, leveraging partnerships with key domestic and international stakeholders. By investing in local talent, we are contributing to the delivery of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy and the wider Vision 2030 ambition to establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for games and esports.' Dr. Deema Alshoaibi, Executive Assistant of the Applied College at PNU, added: 'In Applied College at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, we are focused on equipping our students with skills that prepare them for the future. The video games industry is a dynamic, fast-growing field that continues to attract strong interest from both current and prospective students. This partnership with Savvy Games Group not only brings world-class expertise to our classrooms but also paves the way for our graduates to thrive in the games sector.' This latest MoU forms part of Savvy Academy's broader effort to collaborate with academic institutions across the Kingdom to offer high-quality, specialised training programmes in game development. The initiative also supports Saudi Arabia's economic diversification efforts and its drive to increase women's participation in the tech and entertainment industries by laying the groundwork for a new generation of female game artists and developers.
