“Maysalward sits in a different lane and I am comfortable there”
He described Tamatem as the region’s most important Arabic mobile publisher
Maysalward founder and CEO Nour Khrais says the Jordanian studio has a distinct role in the MENA games industry, built around original games, owned IP and developer training.
Asked which companies he considers key players in the region in 2026, Khrais told PocketGamer.biz that he would not rank them because they serve different purposes.
He pointed to Savvy Games Group’s scale and Scopely’s $4.9 billion acquisition by Savvy in July 2023. He also named Saudi Arabia’s commitment to games and esports, and described Tamatem as the region’s most important Arabic mobile publisher.
Khrais also cited Jawaker, the Jordanian company acquired by Stillfront in 2021 for £205 million upfront. He said its success showed that games built around regional culture can become large, lasting products.
"I expect this list to look different in two years," said Khrais. "Maysalward sits in a different lane and I am comfortable there. We build our own titles, we own the IP and we spend a serious share of our year training the next group of developers."
Building local talent
Maysalward, meanwhile, focuses on developing its own games and owning its intellectual property. Since 2003, the studio has released more than 100 original titles.
It also served as the technical partner for the King Abdullah II Fund for Development’s Jordan Gaming Lab from 2011 to 2025.
Maysalward is the official Minecraft Education partner in Jordan, supporting a Ministry-led programme that has reached more than 140 public schools through teacher training and student projects.
He said a healthy games industry needs publishers, platforms, esports businesses, independent studios and organisations that train future developers. You can read the full interview here.
