Kingdom of Gaming, a new gaming industry event supported by the Saudi government, has adjusted its schedule. Originally planned for December, it has been postponed to 2027, with new specific dates yet to be announced. The event's official website and social media accounts were quietly updated last week to "Coming in 2027," replacing the original schedule of December 1–3 in Riyadh, but the organizers have not issued any formal public statement or explanation.
Currently available information only confirms the event's industry focus, government backing, originally scheduled month, and the postponed year. Reasons for the delay, venue, exhibiting companies, conference agenda, and ticketing arrangements have not been disclosed. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the closest thing to an official statement came from Benjamin Kratsch, Chief Business Development Officer at Levelz Gaming Group, which is affiliated with the Saudi government. He wrote on LinkedIn, "Kingdom of Gaming is coming," stating that "given the current situation, more time is needed." The event organizer, Tahaluf, is a joint venture between Informa and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones. In its trading update on October 27, Informa mentioned that increasing instability within Saudi Arabia forced it to reschedule several events and expects no additional revenue from Saudi Arabia this year.
This schedule change will affect the travel and announcement plans of companies and professionals planning to attend gaming industry events in the Middle East. Until the organizers announce the specific dates for 2027, participants remain unable to finalize their subsequent arrangements. Kingdom of Gaming was previously positioned as a substantial inaugural event, claiming it would attract over 20,000 attendees, 500 studios, and 200 investors, with confirmed participants including Savvy Games Group, Ubisoft, and Roblox. For development teams evaluating market expansion, publishing partnerships, or investment opportunities in the Middle East, this high-exposure business opportunity, which was expected in the near term, has been temporarily removed from their schedules.