A new Mordor Intelligence report forecasts cloud gaming as the Middle East’s fastest-growing gaming platform through 2031. Its cloud and streaming category is projected to grow at a 16.74% CAGR.
The wider Middle East gaming market is estimated at US$5.14 billion in 2026 and forecast to reach US$9.32 billion by 2031. That gives the full market a 12.66% CAGR, putting cloud gaming ahead of the regional growth rate.
Telecom Distribution Is a Major Part of This Forecast
Earlier this week, the Africa report also connected cloud gaming growth with better networks and nearby computing capacity. The Middle East report puts more emphasis on how telecom companies could distribute cloud access.
Mordor points to gaming data packages, carrier billing, edge infrastructure, and partnerships with gaming companies. That can put cloud access inside mobile or home internet relationships people already have. Regional GPU capacity is another part of the forecast. Keeping game processing closer to the person playing can reduce the distance data has to travel, which can improve latency.
This is where the Middle East report separates itself from the other regional forecasts we have covered this week. It is not only about whether the network can support cloud gaming. It is also about who can sell and bundle the access.
Mobile Remains Much Larger
Mobile accounted for 61.30% of Middle East gaming revenue in 2025. Cloud gaming has the faster growth forecast, but it starts from a much smaller part of the market. Phones can also be part of that growth. A smartphone can play many games locally and act as a cloud gaming screen for games being processed elsewhere.
Mordor also points to smart TVs and set-top boxes as additional access points. That gives cloud services more ways to reach screens people already own.
Subscriptions Grow Faster Too, but They Are a Separate Metric
Mordor forecasts subscription services at a 17.65% CAGR through 2031, slightly above the 16.74% cloud and streaming forecast.
Those categories overlap, but they are not the same thing. A gaming subscription can include downloads, multiplayer access, and other benefits that do not require cloud gaming.
Carrier billing and telecom bundles can make both easier to buy, which helps explain why they appear together in the report.
Mordor’s forecast therefore gives the Middle East article a different centre than Africa. Better infrastructure is part of both stories. Here, telecom companies and the way cloud access reaches customers are the more important part.
As always, remember to follow us on our social media platforms (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook) to stay up-to-date with the latest news. This website contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission when you click on these links and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. We are an independent site, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
