- Saudi Arabia-based VC Impact46 has acquired the Saudi game development studio “Kammelna” for $53 million.
- Founded in 2009 by Bader Al Zamil, Kammelna is the digital home of Baloot, with 6 million downloads, 1 million MAUs, and tournaments drawing 150,000 players.
- Investment will accelerate new cultural games, expansion, and global reach.
Press release:
Impact46, one of Saudi Arabia’s most active technology investors, has announced its largest investment to date, committing more than 200 million riyals ($53 million) to back Kammelna, the Saudi gaming studio best known for digitising the Kingdom’s iconic card game Baloot.
Founded in Dammam, Kammelna has become the leading digital platform for Baloot, achieving over 6 million downloads and attracting more than 1 million monthly active users. The studio employs over 40 professionals across engineering, product, and art, making it the largest independent gaming employer in Saudi Arabia. Its Baloot tournaments have drawn as many as 150,000 participants, underlining the cultural impact of its games.
“This deal is a turning point not just for Saudi gaming, but for what it means to invest in culturally grounded, scalable IP,” said Abdulaziz Al Omran, Founder and CEO of Impact46.
The partnership was unveiled on August 23 during the New Global Sports Conference (NGSC25), held alongside the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. Kammelna’s CEO Bader Al Zamil said the deal will fuel the studio’s ambitions to expand: “Our cultural games deserve world-class digital experiences. Partnering with Impact46 marks an exciting new chapter to expand our reach and build more games that carry the spirit of our culture to players everywhere.”
Impact46, which manages more than SAR 2.3 billion in assets and a dedicated gaming-focused fund, has a track record of successful exits, including Rasan and Jahez, both listed on Tadawul. The deal highlights Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 National Gaming and Esports Strategy, reflecting the Kingdom’s drive to make gaming and entertainment a central pillar of its diversification agenda.
