Savvy Games Group & NEOM MoU

Savvy Games Group and NEOM have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to streamline the journey of Saudi gaming startups from incubation to acceleration, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem under Saudi Vision 2030.

The agreement, announced on January 26, 2026, in Riyadh, formalizes a coordinated approach between Savvy’s Nine66 Incubator Program and NEOM’s ‘Level Up’ Accelerator. This collaboration ensures that startups graduating from the incubator receive comprehensive training, resources, and support to progress efficiently into the accelerator phase, ultimately building a stronger pipeline of investable gaming studios.

Savvy Games Group’s Nine66 Incubator Program

The Nine66 Incubator Program has been instrumental in helping early-stage studios validate prototypes, build foundational capabilities, and prepare for investor engagement. Through this initiative, Savvy Games Group aims to help startups achieve readiness to move into subsequent stages of development and scaling, providing them with the essential tools needed to succeed in the competitive gaming industry.

NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator Achievements

NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator has demonstrated remarkable success since its launch in 2023. The program provides funding and mentorship to scale incubated studios into self-sustaining businesses, supporting more than 45 Saudi startups and deploying 15 investments. With a 100% survival rate within its portfolio, Level Up has outperformed many global benchmarks and created more than 170 jobs in the gaming sector.

A historic milestone was achieved through the program when Fahy Studio signed the Kingdom’s first international publishing deal with UK-based publisher Kwalee, demonstrating the accelerator’s effectiveness in connecting Saudi gaming talent with global opportunities.

Industry Leaders Support the Partnership

“As the games industry continues to grow at a rapid pace in Saudi Arabia, there is an increasing number of programs and initiatives designed to help emerging studios and entrepreneurs to build, run, and scale their businesses. This momentum is encouraging, and the next step would be to create stronger synergy and alignment across these efforts, so that the journey is smoother and clearer for startups to identify and source the support they need.”
Amr Sager, Group Chief of Staff at Savvy Games Group

“NEOM Gaming is proud to play a role in nurturing the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem, in line with the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. From sparking interest within high schools, to investing into young gaming studios via the Level Up accelerator, it’s immensely satisfying to see the green shoots of a viable self-sustaining industry appear.”
Toby Evan-Jones, Executive Director and Head of Gaming at NEOM

Future Outlook for Saudi Gaming Industry

This partnership between Savvy Games Group and NEOM represents a strategic alignment that will benefit the entire Saudi gaming ecosystem. By increasing coordination around the startup journey, both organizations aim to create clearer pathways for young game makers and entrepreneurs. The collaboration supports the National Gaming and Esports Strategy objectives, positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global gaming industry while creating sustainable employment opportunities for Saudi talent.

With 17 international partners offering publishing and support through Level Up, and the comprehensive incubation services provided by Nine66, Saudi gaming startups now have access to a complete end-to-end support system that rivals the best global programs in the industry.