Ramadan a new opportunity for gaming startups, if they play their cards right

While for many across the Arab world, Ramadan is a time for reconnecting with family, for remembering old stories, and for giving back to one’s community, for members of the developing regional startup ecosystem, the month-long holiday takes on a slightly busier aspect.

“During Ramadan, the culture of the region changes, from one of production to one of consumption,” says Zaidoun Karadsheh of Jordanian game developer Bee Labs. For startups struggling to make profit in a region whose entrepreneurial scene is still developing, this month-long culture of consumption presents a singular opportunity to gain traction. If startups can hook customers on a product during Ramadan, chances are good that they’ll come back throughout the rest of the year.

This piece is the first in a series on how regional startups in different sectors are formulating, executing, and judging the success of specialized Ramadan strategy for their products.

Gaming is big business in the Middle East, and it only stands to get bigger. The digital games market in the Middle East and Africa is projected to be worth $3.2 billion by 2016. Internet use in the region, at 40%, is higher than the global averages, and smartphone penetration continues to skyrocket (the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the countries with the #1 and #3 highest rates in the world); these are driving the growth of digital and mobile games.

Original article –

Ramadan a new opportunity for gaming startups, if they play their cards right