Gaming & Entertainment

The subscription AI boom that changed how mobile makes money

Something quietly historic happened in the mobile app economy in 2025. For the first time, consumers globally spent more on non-gaming apps than on games. The catalyst, more than any single trend, was generative artificial intelligence.

YouTube Premium and Music just got more expensive

YouTube raising prices on Premium and Music is the kind of move that looks straightforward in a press release and feels considerably more complicated when the billing notification lands, and for subscribers across MENA where the value case for paid streaming was already a harder sell, the timing raises questions that go beyond what the new monthly rate actually is.

$5.4M funding boost positions iBLOXX Studios for major game release

UAE based iBLOXX Studios has raised $5.4 million to support the development and release of its upcoming game, strengthening the country’s growing gaming and digital entertainment ecosystem.

Saudi's SAVVY eyes $6B moonton acquisition in gaming consolidation play

ByteDance is negotiating to sell Shanghai Moonton Technology to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group for between $6 billion and $7 billion

Saudi Media Firm Mersal Capital Closes $1.3 Million First Round

Riyadh-based media and content company Mersal Capital has closed a $1.3 million first funding round to scale its digital media operations across Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Social app Declic closes $1M Seed Round to expand across the Gulf

Declic, the Saudi social app backed by 500 Global and Misk, just closed a $1 million seed round to expand across the Gulf.

Khosouf Studio secures $600K seed from Merak Capital Gaming Fund

UAE based game developer Khosouf Studio has raised USD 600,000 in a seed round led by Merak Capital’s Gaming Fund, supporting its relocation to Saudi Arabia and expansion of narrative driven and VR gaming projects amid growing investment in the MENA gaming market.

Riyadh Air launches SFEER, smart loyalty program

Riyadh Air launches SFEER, a next-generation digital loyalty program powered by GRAVTY® technology to deliver instant, smart, and seamless rewards.

Hypemasters Levels Up, secures $1M investment from Impact46 to power regional Gaming expansion

Hypemasters, the Abu Dhabi based studio behind World War Armies, raised USD 1 million in a round led by Impact46 with participation from GEM Capital to expand its mid-core PvP strategy games and scale regional operations.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi defining the gaming map of MENA

Fueling Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Vision: Qwacks Raises SAR 1.8 Million for core Dev Infrastructure

Qwacks raises SAR 1.8 million in a pre seed round led by Merak Capital to expand its Saudi-built game-development and live-ops infrastructure for studios across the region.

Meta updates it's algorithm with more user control over reels

Facebook has upgraded Reels with AI-powered recommendations, “friend bubbles,” and real-time search. With 200B daily views and 3B monthly users, Meta is turning short videos into the future of social connection — but MENA creators want more localization.

Charging for Memories? Snapchat’s new Move feels Personal

EA deal marks Riyadh's boldest step in gaming and global entertaintment

Open AI launches Sora 2 in the US but MENA might be its biggest test

OpenAI launches Sora, its TikTok-style AI video app powered by Sora 2. What it means for global users and MENA’s fast-growing social media scene.