Floaty Studio's Abdullah Salah: "Our roots are in Saudi Arabia, but our ambition has always been global"

• Floaty is a 10-person studio headquartered in Riyadh, with a mixed local and remote team.
• The studio recently closed its first investment round, $1m from Merak Capital.
• Hero Squad is Floaty's current priority and main focus through the rest of 2026, with further games planned once it ships.

Riyadh-based Floaty spent its early days proving it could build one game well. Now, with a $1 million round from Merak Capital behind it, the studio is betting Hero Squad shows it can build for years.

We speak with founder Abdullah Salah about why execution matters more than chasing trends, what the investment actually changes day to day, and why he sees Saudi Arabia's games industry as still early in a much longer run.

PocketGamer.biz: Could you tell us a bit about Floaty and what you're up to right now?

Abdullah Salah: From the beginning, our goal has been simple: to build a Saudi game studio that creates games players around the world genuinely enjoy. We're not trying to build just one successful game, we're building a studio that can consistently create great games for years to come.

Right now, our biggest focus is Hero Squad. At the same time, we're continuing to grow the studio, strengthen our team, and build the foundation for more games in the future.

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

We're currently a team of around 10 people, with our headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Part of our team is based in Saudi Arabia, while the rest work remotely from different countries. This setup allows us to combine local talent with international experience while staying flexible as a growing studio.

What does "creating games for players around the world" mean in practice? Global from day one, or MENA-first then out?

We've always thought globally. We're proud to be a Saudi studio, but we've never seen ourselves as a studio building games for just one region.

Every game we make is designed with players around the world in mind. Our roots are in Saudi Arabia, but our ambition has always been global.

The casual and hybrid-casual mobile space is highly crowded. How does Floaty plan to differentiate its titles to capture that global attention?

The market is highly competitive, so we don't spend much time chasing trends. Instead, we focus on creating games that are genuinely fun. We test early, listen to player feedback, and keep improving with every iteration.

I believe great execution and continuous improvement make a much bigger difference than simply having a unique idea.

Floaty recently secured $1m in funding. Is this the team's first investment round? And how do you think MENA studios can attract more investment?

Yes, this was our first investment round, and we're proud to have Merak Capital supporting our journey. For us, the investment is about much more than funding. It gives us the opportunity to build the company the right way, strengthen our team, and focus on long-term growth.

I also believe investors are looking for teams that can consistently execute. Good ideas are important, but the ability to build products, learn quickly, and grow a healthy business is what creates long-term confidence.

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

I'm genuinely excited about where Saudi Arabia is heading. Vision 2030 has played a major role in accelerating the growth of the games industry. Through investment, talent development, and initiatives that support local studios, Saudi Arabia has created an environment where game developers can think bigger and build for a global audience.

As founders, we've felt that momentum ourselves. The level of support and ambition across the ecosystem gives studios like ours the confidence to build long-term companies from Saudi Arabia. I believe we're still at the beginning of this journey. 

Over the next few years, I expect to see more Saudi studios building games that succeed globally, more local talent entering the industry, and Saudi Arabia becoming one of the leading game development hubs in the region. We're proud to be part of that journey, and I truly believe the best is yet to come.

What are your plans for the rest of 2026? Will you be exploring new platforms? And are there any specific initiatives or projects on the horizon that we should look forward to?

Our biggest focus for the rest of 2026 is Hero Squad, and we're putting all our effort into making it the best game it can be.

Looking beyond that, our ambition is simple: to build more games and continue growing Floaty into a studio known for creating high-quality mobile games for players around the world. We're building for the long term, and every project brings us one step closer to that vision.