Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning video games ecosystem received a strategic boost last week as Savvy Games Group and NEOM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a streamlined pipeline for domestic gaming startups, strengthening the Kingdom’s end-to-end industry support structure.
The partnership aligns two of the Kingdom’s flagship programmes, Savvy’s Nine66 Incubator and NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator, to offer a coordinated pathway for early-stage game studios from initial incubation through acceleration and investment readiness.
Building a Clear Growth Pathway for Game Developers
Under the MoU, startups graduating from Savvy’s Nine66 Incubator will gain enhanced access to NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator, which provides funding, mentorship, global industry connections and tailored growth support. This structured transition aims to remove friction often encountered between early validation phases and later scaling stages, preparing founders for investment and market expansion.
Savvy’s Nine66 programme focuses on helping early-stage studios validate prototypes, build core capabilities and prepare for investor engagement. NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator, launched in 2023 as part of NEOM Gaming, has grown into a multiphase platform that supports game developers with funding and mentorship to evolve into self-sustaining businesses.
Since its inception, Level Up has backed more than 45 Saudi startups, deployed 15 investments and maintained a 100 % survival rate across its portfolio, outperforming many global accelerator benchmarks. The programme has also enabled over 170 job creations in the Saudi gaming sector and facilitated a historic milestone: the Kingdom’s first international publishing deal for a domestic studio, sealed between Fahy Studio and UK-based publisher Kwalee.
Strategic Alignment With Vision 2030
The partnership underscores Saudi Arabia’s broader ambitions under Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify its economy and build a globally competitive digital entertainment sector. Both Savvy and NEOM say the collaboration supports the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to cultivate a self-sustaining local industry by fostering talent, enabling global partnerships and creating commercially viable studios.
Amr Sager, Group Chief of Staff at Savvy Games Group, highlighted that while support programmes for game startups have multiplied, clearer synergy between them is now essential to make pathways smoother for founders seeking growth and investment. “This partnership with NEOM is about giving Saudi studios a clearer runway to scale,” he said.
Toby Evan-Jones, Executive Director and Head of Gaming at NEOM, emphasised the accelerator’s role in nurturing the ecosystem, from early interest in gaming to long-term commercial success. “By aligning incubation and acceleration, we can improve coordination across the ecosystem,” he said, noting that this benefits not only startups but also strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for gaming innovation.
A Growing Industry With Global Aspirations
Saudi Arabia has rapidly become a focal point for gaming investment and infrastructure, driven in part by significant backing through the Public Investment Fund and strategic industry investments by Savvy Games Group. The sector’s growth is reflected in increasing numbers of funded studios, international publishing deals and enhanced global partnerships, a trajectory this new MoU aims to accelerate.
As the Kingdom continues to invest in technology and creative industries, industry observers say that structured programmes like Nine66 and Level Up could soon create a generation of Saudi studios capable of competing on the global stage.
Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for startup & business news and inspiring stories of MENA businesses, entrepreneurs, startups, innovators, investors, and change-makers.
To report any issue or error in the story, please email us editor [at] rasmal [dot] com.
Last Updated on February 5, 2026 by Safiya K
