Qwacks, the Saudi gaming-technology startup building tools for developers, has raised SAR 1.8 million from Merak Capital. The fresh funding goes toward product engineering, new hiring and rolling out its developer platform across Saudi Arabia and other markets.
The round sits inside Merak Capital’s Exel programme, which backs gaming studios and platform teams developing from inside the Kingdom. Qwacks said the funding gives it space to build faster and support developers locally instead of relying on tools hosted abroad. In its statement, the team said the cash will “accelerate efforts to empower developers and improve the technology stack available in the region.”
Merak highlighted the deeper role Qwacks could play in Saudi’s gaming sector, calling the company a builder of “next generation tools for developers” that support the Kingdom’s long view of becoming a gaming and digital-entertainment centre.
Why The Investment Matters For Saudi’s Gaming Push
Saudi Arabia treats gaming, esports and digital entertainment as part of its long-term diversification plan, and that changes how funding flows. Qwacks isn’t a game studio. It sits behind the scenes, giving developers toolkits that help them publish and scale. That approach means every improvement in Qwacks’ platform can ripple across many future games.
It also supports skill building inside the region. Tooling companies reduce the need to outsource core work, which helps local teams gain experience and hold more value inside the Kingdom. Qwacks said it wants to offer “capabilities that support independent studios and large projects alike,” which is a hint at a wider vision than a single game release.
Who Gains From A Stronger Tooling Layer
Small studios, independent creators and established developers all benefit if they have better support and fewer technical hurdles. Early stage teams in particular gain access to knowledge that previously required foreign specialists.
On the policy side, the funding gives Saudi’s diversification agenda another point of progress. Investors and partners can use it as a signal that the market is ready to support infrastructure rather than only consumer-facing hits.
What Comes Next For The Platform
Qwacks expects to expand its platform over the next year with services for publishing, asset pipelines and onboarding. Merak Capital says more developer-focused companies will be backed through the Exel programme as it grows.
As more tools land in the market, both sides expect a larger ecosystem of studios, platforms and support services to form around Saudi Arabia’s developing gaming industry.
