Yalla Group joins the $1bn Arab companies club with a $1.23bn valuation
- Founded in 2016, Yalla employs around 800 staff across Dubai and China.
- The company has expanded into chat, lifestyle, and culturally tailored casual games.
- Localisation has been central to Yalla’s rise, from language support to cultural content.
- Breakout hit Yalla Ludo paved the way for international spin-offs like Yalla Parchis.
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Yalla Group has been listed among 22 Arab companies now valued at more than $1 billion.
As of August 2025, the Dubai-headquartered social networking and gaming firm is currently valued at $1.23bn.
The list, revealed by Innovation Hub SA, highlights the region’s growing tech ecosystem, spanning fintech, e-commerce, mobility, travel, delivery, and gaming.
It includes Saudi’s stc pay, Egypt’s Fawry, and mobility player Careem. Among them, Yalla Group stands out as the sole social platform.
Founded in 2016, Yalla Group operates a portfolio of social and gaming apps designed for the Middle East. It employs around 800 people across Dubai and China.
Continuous growth
The company’s flagship titles include Yalla, a voice-centric group chat app, and Yalla Ludo, which combines localised board games with voice chat and Majlis-style community features.
It has since expanded into instant messaging with YallaChat, cultural lifestyle platforms WeMuslim, and regionally popular casual games such as Yalla Baloot and 101 Okey Yalla.
The firm has also leaned heavily into localisation to capture Arabic-speaking audiences – from language support to culturally relevant content.
Its efforts helped Yalla Ludo become one of the region’s breakout mobile titles, while spin-offs like Yalla Parchis target overseas markets such as South America.
“Yalla Ludo’s success is due to our deep understanding of the local market and our ability to create a product that resonates with users,” said Yalla Group president Saifi Ismail, who spoke to us in a previous interview.
“We focused on delivering a user-friendly, culturally relevant game that also incorporated social elements, which are highly valued in the MENA region.”
Learn more about the MENA games market at Pocket Gamer Connects Aqaba on November 8th to 9th, 2025.
