Khalifa Fund and Inovartic Unite to Power UAE’s Gaming Renaissance

Editorial Team

Last updated 3-06-2025

3 min

Khalifa Fund and Inovartic Investment have joined forces to develop the UAE’s gaming industry.

They plan to provide incubation programmes, training, funding, and resources for emerging gaming businesses.

The collaboration aims to highlight Emirati culture, embedding local storytelling traditions into games.

This initiative supports the UAE’s creative economy, nurturing talent and innovation in gaming.

Joint events and a streamlined commercialisation pipeline will enhance global competitiveness for startups.

There's exciting news out of Abu Dhabi for gamers and startups alike—Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) has teamed up with Inovartic Investment in a major new deal to help cultivate the UAE’s burgeoning gaming industry.

The partnership's got some pretty big ambitions, including setting up incubation programmes to support fledgling gaming businesses from day one. They'll also be offering specialised training, financial backing, and resources to help creative minds design original games and bring them successfully to market. I dare say this could be a real game changer (excuse the pun!), particularly for local entrepreneurs trying to break through in such a competitive global arena.

Aside from the practical business skills, both organisations seem keen on emphasising the region's rich culture and traditions. The agreement aims to nurture authentically Emirati storytelling and cultural themes, creating meaningful gaming content that mirrors local heritage. This sort of local authenticity could be exactly the unique selling point these startups need to really stand out globally.

Mouza Al Nasri, Acting CEO of KFED, said the collaboration marked a significant step forward, underscoring their commitment to empowering Emirati talent in gaming. She mentioned they've created a space to fuel creativity and innovation in line with the UAE’s broader economic and social objectives.

Saif Al Darmaki, Chairman and Co-founder of Inovartic Investment, hailed the agreement as a watershed moment for the UAE's creative economy. He highlighted the value of blending skilled incubation efforts with Emirati storytelling traditions, aiming to position Abu Dhabi firmly at the heart of the regional gaming scene.

Echoing these sentiments, Anwar Hussain, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Inovartic, said the joint effort wasn't just about startups—it was about cultivating a vibrant ecosystem where creativity, cultural heritage, and international aspirations could come together effortlessly to shape the gaming landscape far beyond the country’s borders.

The collaboration will also streamline the commercialisation pipeline, helping young studios refine investor pitch decks and successfully launch prototypes on the market. Joint events and showcases are part of the plan too, giving creators valuable platforms to share their work, exchange ideas, and connect further afield.

Since its founding in 2007 by Abu Dhabi’s government, Khalifa Fund's been steadily backing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across varied industries in line with the vision of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The gaming partnership with Inovartic strengthens those efforts, clearly demonstrating its ongoing commitment to nurturing local innovation.

So, as Arageek readers might appreciate, with targeted support like this, Emirati game creators could soon be pulling even bigger punches on the global stage—highlighting their roots and originality while forging promising futures in the digital creative ecossystem.

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