- What
- Funding for gaming studios.
- Who
- Saudi-based game development studios.
- From abroad
- A company in Saudi Arabia is required — Must be a Saudi-based game development studio; By the Acceleration Phase must have LLC commercial registration, VAT registration, and a business bank account All programmes open to founders from abroad →
- Latest
- Last cohort Jan 2026 — Five studios welcomed into Cohort 3Newest dated item on its own site · checked Oct 2026
Checked · October 2026 · neomlevelup.game · How we check ↗
In detail
NEOM Level Up (Gaming Accelerator) is a game studio accelerator in Saudi Arabia. Gaming accelerator by NEOM with DigiPen Institute of Technology — over 12 months, selected Saudi-based studios receive funding, expert mentorship and industry connections (funding amount not published). Performance-based model: a Program Readiness Phase, then a Studio Acceleration Phase with cash incentive payments. Cohort 3 (five studios) announced January 2026; registration currently closed.
- Amount
- Funding — amount not published
- Eligibility
- Saudi-based game development teams
- Sectors
- Gaming
- Status
- Registration closed — Cohort 3 running
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what NEOM Level Up (Gaming Accelerator) publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Open to Saudi-based game development studios”
“Over 12 months, selected studios receive funding, expert mentorship, and industry connections”
“Aligned with NEOM Media Industries’ vision, DigiPen plays a key role in the Level Up Accelerator”
“The registration is now closed.”
“Eligible to receive cash incentive payments”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare accelerators & incubators in Saudi Arabia
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NEOM Level Up (Gaming Accelerator)Funding for gaming studios. | not published | Not published | Closed |
| 500 Global SaudiPossible $100,000+ equity investment; $35,000 Phase 1 fee; 12-week Riyadh programme. | $100,000+ | Equity | Closed |
| Antler MENAP$180,000 via SAFE for 11% equity, plus up to $320,000 uncapped follow-on. | up to $320,000 | Equity | Open |
| CODE — Center of Digital EntrepreneurshipCoworking spaces, business services, incubation and acceleration programmes. | not published | Not published | Active |
| Falak Flagship ProgramDirect funding of up to SAR 375,000 plus soft landing and technical enablement. | up to SAR 375,000 | Equity | Dormant |
| FinspireUp to SAR 100,000 development funding, earmarked rather than paid as cash. | up to SAR 100,000 | Equity via SAFE, capped at 5% | Closed |
| Flat6Labs RiyadhSAR 500K in cash seed funding plus SAR 2.4M in follow-on funding. | SAR 2.4M | Equity | Closed |
| inspireU by stcGeneral track (3 months, grants) or Advanced track (6 months, invitation-only, funding). | not published | Not published | Active |
| Newlab Riyadh — Mining Innovation StudioTargeted investment. | not published | Targeted investments | Active |
| Orbit Ventures (formerly Orbit Startups)$80,000–$100,000 invested in every startup over a 4-month batch. | not published | Equity | Closed |
| Princess Nourah University – University Startup AcceleratorUniversity accelerator with financial and in-kind grants; PNU invests in top startups. | not published | Not published | Active |
| TAQADAMUp to $140K: $40K base grant plus up to $100K follow-on for top teams. | up to $140K | No equity | Closed |
| The GarageIncubator, accelerator and Bridge programmes with free workspace; no funding figure published. | not published | Not published | Active |
| VMSSeed funding and grants plus investor access. | not published | Not published | Active |
| EWAx Sedrah — Environment AcceleratorSupport programme for environment-sector startups. | not published | Not published | Closed |
| GEA Entertainment Accelerator3-month accelerator with workshops, mentors, co-working and investor access; no direct funding. | not published | Free to participate; no direct funding | Closed |
| impactU by stcImpact incubation programme. | not published | No equity | Dormant |
| KAUST ScaleXLab access, faculty consultation and market-entry support in Saudi Arabia; no direct funding. | not published | Free to apply; no direct funding | Closed |
| KSU Aspiring Entrepreneurs Program (Riyadh Valley Company)KSU founder programme: top 3 projects compete for SAR 500,000 initial funding. | SAR 500,000 | Not published | Active |
| SDAIA GAIA ProgramA 10-week generative-AI accelerator with SAR 150,000 in grants from NTDP. | SAR 150,000 | Not published | Dormant |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
All accelerators & incubators in Saudi Arabia → · Across the Gulf →
Questions founders ask
What does NEOM Level Up (Gaming Accelerator) offer?
Funding for gaming studios.
Can founders from abroad apply?
A company in Saudi Arabia is required — Must be a Saudi-based game development studio; By the Acceleration Phase must have LLC commercial registration, VAT registration, and a business bank account.
Is it open now?
No — it is currently closed. The status on this page follows the programme’s own site.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · neomlevelup.game · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/neom · Checked October 2026