It is crucial that investors recognise the importance of investing in and believing in the local industry

Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan returns on November 9th and 10th, 2024, offering you a chance to gain insights into the world’s fastest-growing games market, MENA.

As part of our MENA coverage and run-up to the event, we caught up with Raheebeen Studios founder Ahmed Alshaikh who spoke to us about their partnership with Naphora and creating a community to support young developers in Saudi Arabia.

PocketGamer.biz: Tell us a bit about Raheebeen Studios and what you’re up to right now?

Ahmed Alshaikh: Raheebeen Studios is a Saudi game development studio currently focusing on creating games that highlight Arab and Saudi culture. Our latest game ‘AFRSHO’, incorporates local customs and traditions using modern technology to appeal to both local and international players.

How many staff do you currently employ and where are they based?

We have a dedicated team of 10 employees based in Riyadh, working together to create games that make a significant impact in the games world. 

What are you doing to foster collaboration and recruit local talents?

At Raheebeen, we collaborate with local games programs to discover and employ young talents. We also provide them with opportunities to enter the market to excel and innovate in the games industry.

You recently partnered with Naphora Games Group to develop AFRSHO. How did it come about?

Our partnership with Naphora represents a strategic alliance that combines our game development expertise with their extensive industry experience. The partnership with Naphora is one of our best decisions so far as it aligns with our shared goals.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the localisation process?

The challenges of localisation have been an opportunity for us to showcase creativity in designing characters that authentically reflect the local culture, significantly enriching player experiences.

AFRSHO is often labelled as a “hyper-localised” game. How have your games been received internationally outside the MENA region?

AFRSHO was initially launched with a focus on the Middle East market where it received an enthusiastic reception from players. We are currently planning for its global release in collaboration with our partners at Naphora in the upcoming phase.

What do you see as the current opportunities and challenges facing the games industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region?

Opportunities in Saudi Arabia are growing daily, thanks to the Vision 2030 initiative by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

We are seizing these opportunities to establish ourselves as leaders in the games industry. This wise leadership provides unparalleled support that helps us overcome any challenges.

What are your thoughts on emerging technologies in games? And do you have plans to incorporate AI into your game development process?

Emerging technologies like AI, AR, and VR open new horizons for creativity. We plan to integrate them in ways that transform traditional games into interactive and innovative experiences that redefine gameplay.

In terms of funding and support for gaming studios in MENA, what has been your experience navigating the funding landscape?

Raheebeen Studios has significantly benefited from government support programs such as Game Founders from the CODE | MCIT and the game accelerator from Monsha’at.

We are especially fortunate in our partnership with Naphora, which has opened up tremendous opportunities for us. However, it is crucial that other investors recognise the importance of investing in and believing in the local industry.

What are your plans for the rest of 2024? Will you be exploring new platforms? And are there any specific initiatives or projects on the horizon that we should look forward to?

For the rest of 2024 we plan to focus on enhancing and expanding our current games portfolio. We are also looking to build local partnerships that boost our technical capabilities and provide the necessary resources for developing more complex and appealing games.

Lastly, we are working on initiatives to support young developers in Saudi Arabia as we aim to create a supportive local community that fosters innovation and creativity in game development.