Girnaas
closedA studio specializing in mobile game development, providing services for training, productivity, advertising, education, and various other purposes.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
| N/A | $156k | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Girnaas is a Qatari-based gaming studio established in 2013 by co-founders Munera Al-Dosari, Faraj Abdulla, and Fatima Al-Kuwari. The founders, self-described technology and gaming enthusiasts, identified a gap in the mobile gaming market for content that reflects the rich storytelling culture of the Arab world. The name "Girnaas" is an Arabic word for the highest peak of a mountain, reflecting the company's ambition to lead the regional gaming industry.
The initial idea for the company formed in 2012 when the founders won third place at the QITCOM innovation theatre competition. This achievement secured them incubation at the Digital Incubation Centre (DIC), which provided seed funding, office space, and crucial guidance. The company operates in the mobile gaming market, developing titles for both iOS and Android devices. Its business model incorporates revenue from both paid games and free-to-play games, which generate income through in-app purchases and advertising. For their first game, they successfully secured advertising from two local supporters before the game was even launched.
Girnaas's first major product was "Giddam," a side-scrolling platform game launched in December 2013, which was the first to be locally produced in Qatar. The game features four main characters and has been downloaded over 350,000 times across more than 100 countries. Following this, the company released "Giddam Connect" in May 2014 and has also created other titles such as "Go Fahed." The studio is known for developing multiplayer games with Arabic characters and settings, specifically catering to Middle Eastern audiences. Beyond its own productions, Girnaas has also supported other local talent, assisting a group of young Qataris in releasing their own game, "Hamad and Sahar."
Keywords: mobile gaming, game development, Qatar, Middle East market, Arabic content, iOS games, Android games, free-to-play, in-app purchases, game advertising, Giddam, multiplayer games, cultural games, Digital Incubation Centre, Munera Al-Dosari, Faraj Abdulla, Fatima Al-Kuwari, game studio, interactive entertainment, Qatari startups