Savvy Games Group, an investment group funded by the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) that owns the esports production company ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), has formalised a partnership with King Abdulaziz University (KAU) to introduce specialised diploma programmes in games production and esports management, as part of a broader initiative to develop local talent for Saudi Arabia’s growing gaming and esports sectors.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Jeddah on 22 July 2025, sets the foundation for what both parties describe as a strategic collaboration focused on fostering industry-ready skills among Saudi students. The new programmes are scheduled to launch in the upcoming academic year.
According to the announcement, the diplomas aim to blend academic education with practical, industry-relevant training. Students enrolled in the Games Production course will be trained in managing game development projects, while those in the Esports Management diploma will learn the operational and logistical aspects of organising professional esports events.
Majed Al-Muhanna, Chief Human Resources Officer at Savvy, highlighted the initiative as a core component of the company’s broader educational mission. “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,” he said. Al-Muhanna also linked the programme to Saudi Arabia’s wider ambitions under Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which seek to position the country as a global hub for the industry.
King Abdulaziz University, one of the country’s largest academic institutions, expressed similar views on the significance of the initiative. “As gaming and esports expand at an unprecedented pace, there’s a rising demand for talent that combines creative insight with operational excellence,” said Prof. Mohammed Balubaid, Dean of the Applied College. He also suggested that students may gain exposure to major international events, including the Esports World Cup (EWC) hosted in Saudi Arabia.
The partnership falls under Savvy Academy’s Level-Up programme, which is designed to deliver vocational training in collaboration with prominent academic institutions across the Kingdom.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article pointed that Savvy Games Group owned shares at Nintendo, Capcom and EA. Actually, PIF holds these shares independently of Savvy. The text was amended on Friday, 25 July.
