DUBAI — Saudi Arabia-based mobile gaming studio FLOATY Studio has closed a $1 million funding round led by Merak Capital through its Merak Gaming Fund, adding to a growing list of Gulf gaming deals that are drawing attention from UAE investors tracking the region’s digital entertainment sector.
Founded in 2023 by Fahad Qaysi, Zeyad Almalki and Abdullah Salah, FLOATY Studio builds casual mobile games aimed at international audiences. The company is currently developing two titles: Pirasea, a pirate-themed strategy game, and Hero Squad, a sci-fi action title. The new capital will go toward accelerating production, strengthening in-house development capabilities, and supporting the studio’s push into overseas markets as it works to position Saudi-developed games on the global stage.
Why It Matters for UAE Gaming Capital
The deal underscores the momentum building around Gulf gaming as an asset class, a trend UAE-based venture funds and family offices have been watching closely. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have positioned themselves as regional hubs for gaming infrastructure, esports events, and publisher headquarters, while Saudi Arabia has moved aggressively into game development and studio funding through vehicles such as Savvy Games Group and now specialist funds like Merak Gaming Fund. For UAE investors, the transaction signals that early-stage capital for GCC-origin gaming IP is becoming more structured and fund-driven rather than opportunistic, opening a template that local venture firms could replicate.
Opportunities for UAE Founders and Studios
For UAE-based game developers and creative studios, FLOATY’s raise is a reference point on deal size, investor appetite, and the kind of casual, internationally scalable content that Gulf-focused funds are prioritizing. UAE free zones, including those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that host media and gaming licensing frameworks, remain attractive bases for studios seeking to combine Saudi capital with UAE operational infrastructure. As GCC gaming funding rounds grow more frequent, UAE incubators and accelerators may see increased cross-border interest from studios seeking regional headquarters, publishing partnerships, or co-development arrangements, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a operational and commercial hub even as capital increasingly originates from Riyadh-based funds.
