Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 gaming push continues to translate into real studio movement—not just headlines.
Khosouf Studio, a UAE-founded developer focused on premium and immersive game experiences, has raised $600,000 (SAR 2.2 million) to accelerate its next phase of growth. The funding will support both studio expansion and a strategic relocation to Saudi Arabia, aligning the company with the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving gaming ecosystem.
The investment comes via Merak Capital’s Gaming Fund, backed by the National Development Fund, which plays a central role in financing Saudi Arabia’s long-term economic diversification efforts.
🧠Not Just Funding — A Strategic Relocation Bet
This raise is not about extending runway alone. It’s a geographic and ecosystem bet.
By relocating from the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Khosouf Studio is positioning itself inside a market that is actively investing in:
Local IP creation
Game development infrastructure
Talent attraction and studio formation
Global publishing ambitions
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda has moved beyond funding events and partnerships—it is now pulling studios to establish long-term operational bases.
Khosouf’s relocation places it among the early wave of developers choosing to build from within the Kingdom, rather than simply serving it as a market.
đź’ˇ Why Merak Capital Backed This Move
Merak Capital’s Gaming Fund is designed to support studios that can scale globally while operating locally—a critical distinction.
According to Abdulelah Alshareef, Principal at Merak Capital:
“Khosouf Studio represents the type of globally minded gaming developer we seek to support—teams with strong creative and technical foundations that are committed to building and scaling their operations from Saudi Arabia.”
This reflects a broader investment thesis:
Saudi Arabia is not only financing games—it is competing to host studios, IP ownership, and long-term value creation.
🎮 Studio DNA: Premium, Narrative, and Immersive
Founded in 2020, Khosouf Studio focuses on original, narrative-driven games, with a strong emphasis on immersive formats and experiential design.
The studio is best known for its debut title:
BOX to the BEAT VR – a rhythm-based VR experience that established the team’s technical and creative foundations
Currently in development are two original IPs:
The Panic Pit – a narrative-focused project exploring tension-driven gameplay
Glitch Core – a cooperative FPS roguelite designed for replayability and social play
In parallel, Khosouf operates a VR services arm, delivering:
Interactive experiences
Training and simulation projects
Educational VR solutions
This hybrid structure gives the studio financial stability alongside creative independence, a model increasingly common among emerging studios in developing ecosystems.
🎙️ “A Game Changer for Our Long-Term Vision”
Founder and CEO Ahmad Al-Natsheh framed the funding as a structural milestone rather than a short-term boost:
“Merak Capital’s investment is an absolute game changer. It elevates our ambitions and enables us to establish a long-term base in Saudi Arabia while scaling our original IP globally.”
He added:
“Having a strong local partner allows us to grow with confidence and publish proudly regional titles for a worldwide audience.”
The emphasis on local roots + global reach mirrors Saudi Arabia’s broader messaging to studios entering the market.
🌍 Why This Matters for the MENA Gaming Ecosystem
This move highlights a critical shift in the region:
The UAE remains a launchpad and testing ground
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a long-term operating base
With state-backed funds, policy alignment, and growing talent pools, the Kingdom is transitioning from investor to ecosystem builder.
Khosouf Studio’s relocation is part of a growing pattern:
Studios are no longer asking “Should we enter Saudi Arabia?”
They are asking “Should we build from here?”
🔥 The Bigger Picture
At $600K, this is not the region’s largest funding round—but it may be one of the most strategically significant.
Khosouf is securing:
Capital
Institutional backing
Geographic alignment with Vision 2030
A platform to scale original IP globally
As Saudi Arabia’s gaming ecosystem matures, early movers like Khosouf stand to benefit disproportionately—not just from funding, but from being embedded in the system from day one.
This is how ecosystems are built:
one studio, one relocation, one original IP at a time.
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