HP Gaming Garage Lab Launched in SEU Riyadh to Boost Saudi Esports Career Skills

 HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announces the launch of its ‘HP Gaming Garage Lab’ at the Saudi Electronic University (SEU), based at the campus in Riyadh. The new lab at SEU offers students a chance to explore and develop skills in Esports Management and Game Development, prepping them for careers in the Media, ICT and Esports industries.

HP Gaming Garage is an initiative that promotes and encourages learners from all over the world to gain the skills needed to enter the gaming and Esports industries. The support from HP includes the online Gaming Garage education course platform as well as equipping the new lab at SEU with latest generation OMEN and HyperX devices, in collaboration with AMD.

HP Gaming Garage offers equal chance to excel

The launch of the HP Gaming Garage Lab included presentations from HP, SEU and AMD that reaffirmed the mission of the new lab. Commenting at the launch today, Fadle Saad, MD Saudi Arabia at HP, said: ” We are proud to launch the new HP Gaming Garage Lab to support KSA’s vision to become a hub for gaming excellence. At HP, we believe that equitable access to education for young people is key for digital equity. The free Game Development and Esports Management courses available through the HP Gaming Garage curriculum provide a platform for all to enhance their skills and thrive in the digital economy”.

The HP Gaming Garage Lab opening will bolster KSA’s goal to become a leading global hub for gaming and esports by 2030, which could create over 35,000 jobs and contribute $13.3bn to the nation’s economy. The Saudi Esports Federation also aims to have 250 gaming companies in the kingdom by 2030 and to create more than 30 game titles that are among the top 300 globally by 2031.

Advancing Saudi gaming goals

The gaming sector has experienced unprecedented global growth over the past decade and has transformed into a mainstream entertainment industry with significant economic, cultural, and technological influence. On PC, the estimated number of players worldwide will reach 909 million in 2026 – the largest segment ahead of console by 33%.   Gaming now presents a wealth of opportunities for youth employment and can serve as a catalyst for economic development, skill acquisition, and innovation.

With the cutting-edge gaming devices available to use on site, the newly opened HP Gaming Garage Lab can be the starting point for the next generation of game development talent in Saudi. Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader at HP, said: “Upskilling the next generation of game developers and Esports leaders is a mission that we at HP are thrilled to bring to KSA. With 23.5 million gaming enthusiasts in the Kingdom,  the potential for the country’s youth to turn that passion into fruitful careers is hugely exciting”.

Dr Mohammad Yahya Mardi, President at Saudi Electronic University, said: “This partnership will give a powerful boost to our aim of providing the kingdom with a skilled cohort of developers for the gaming and Esports industry. It will allow us to significantly support the Saudi national vision of becoming a global hub for game development.”

Cutting-edge tech for tomorrow’s creators

HP’s commitment to the new HP Gaming Garage Lab includes the provision of products from its two leading gaming brands OMEN and HyperX. These devices, built for all gamers, include OMEN 16 laptops, OMEN 27″ HD Gaming Monitors, HyperX Cloud III Wireless Headsets. The OMEN 16 laptops are powered by AMD’s Ryzen 9 6000 CPU series with the company also providing support for the HP Gaming Garage Lab launch.

James Blackman, Director EMEA at AMD, said: “As AMD celebrates its 55th anniversary, our commitment to advancing educational technologies remains strong. Integrating technology in education enhances student-centered learning and enriches educational environments. We’re proud to partner with HP and SEU to launch the latest HP Gaming Garage Lab, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s dedication to gaming and education. AMD continues to innovate in processor technology, creating faster, more efficient, and high-performing processors. These advancements are set to transform educational practices, redefining the teaching and learning landscape.”

Sparking creativity in Saudi’s next generation

HP’s dedication to nurturing Saudi game development talent has already been evidenced by the KSA GameOn with HP Gaming Garage challenge where aspiring developer teams have created their own unique games in an ongoing hackathon. The GameOn hackathon began on World Heritage Day (April 18th) with participants challenged to create a game prototype on the theme of Culture and Heritage. The incubation phase will culminate with the announcement of the best team project on Thursday, June 13th at the Saudi Electronic University.