Kakao Games signs Abu Dhabi partnership to expand publishing and live-ops across MENA
Summary
Kakao Games signed a partnership with Abu Dhabi's Investment Office in Seoul.
The deal lets Kakao Games explore publishing, localisation and live-operations expansion across the Middle East.
ADIO announced the pact as one of three deals signed at the forum.
The forum drew 88 organisations and over 400 officials from Abu Dhabi and Korea.
01
Partnership terms
ADIO will connect Kakao Games to Abu Dhabi's gaming, creative and technology sectors.
The agreement's scope spans publishing, localisation and live-operations support.
Both sides agreed only to explore opportunities, with no financial terms disclosed.
No investment size or implementation timeline accompanied the announcement.
02
Strategic logic for MENA entry
Korean companies registered with Abu Dhabi Chamber rose 5.9% year-on-year in 2025.
Companies with Korean partners grew 9.2% over the same period.
ADIO signed three deals at the forum, covering investment, finance and gaming.
The pact positions Abu Dhabi as a potential live-ops hub for Asian publishers.
03
Concurrent moves reshape Kakao's 2026
Kakao Games is also acquiring a 39.56% stake in Me2on for $71.5 million.
That purchase follows Kakao's shutdown of its Eversoul game earlier in 2026.
The MENA pact and the Me2on deal land within the same 2026 window.
Together they show Kakao reallocating capital toward new titles and new markets.
What this means
For Service Vendors: Pitch Arabic localisation and culturalisation packages to Korean publishers planning Gulf launches.
For Investors & VC: Exclude Gulf-expansion upside from Korean publisher valuations until committed capital is disclosed.
Events
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Locations
Middle East & North AfricaSouth Korea
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