2024 Middle East & Africa Funding And Number Of Startups & Scaleups

MEA gaming startups collectively attracted US $3.416 billion in venture funding in 2024, though this capital was heavily concentrated. Israel alone accounted for nearly 47% of the total, raising US $1.615 billion. This reflects Israel’s status as a global innovation hub with deep-tech specialization, institutional capital depth, and well-established paths to IPO and secondary exits. Key players like Playtika and Moon Active continue to anchor Israel’s dominance in the sector.

Turkey followed with US $961 million, largely flowing into later-stage ventures like Dream Games and Spyke Games. While investor confidence remains strong, the market’s maturity signals potential headwinds for early-stage entrants seeking to scale. In Nigeria, US $371 million was raised, driven primarily by a handful of megadeals including KingMakers in digital sports entertainment. Nigeria stands out as Africa’s leading gaming investment destination, though funding remains highly concentrated among select players, with infrastructure challenges still posing barriers to broader scale.

The UAE secured US $347 million in 2024, with notable deals including Fenix Games and True Gamers. Much of this investment aligns with national digital economy strategies and an ambition to position the UAE as a regional eSports and gaming hub.