Roblox has revealed that it will establish a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step designed to bolster its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement, highlighted by Pocket Gamer, notes that the venture enjoys backing from several Saudi institutions, including the Ministry of Investment, the Riyadh Creative District, and the General Authority of Media Regulation. Mohamed El Sheakh, Roblox’s General Manager for MENA and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the hub in Riyadh underscores the company’s enduring commitment to Saudi Arabia and its broader digital‑economy ambitions outlined in Vision 2030.
“Our decision to establish our regional headquarters in Riyadh is a reflection of Roblox's long‑term investment in Saudi Arabia and our commitment to supporting the Kingdom's digital economy objectives under Vision 2030,” El Sheakh said. He added that the company intends to build on existing collaborations in education, creator development, and the gaming landscape, and to fund programs that will help Saudi Arabia become a worldwide gaming hub.
The Riyadh office will serve as a central point for Roblox’s creator‑support initiatives, offering tools, training, and mentorship to aspiring developers throughout the MENA region. By providing a local base, Roblox aims to reduce barriers for creators who might otherwise struggle with language, cultural nuances, or technical infrastructure.
The headquarters will also act as a liaison between the company and Saudi policymakers, ensuring that new projects align with the Kingdom’s strategic goals. Earlier this year, Roblox entered into a partnership with Savvy Games Group, a move that introduced the platform’s development suite and support services to the regional gaming infrastructure. Dave Baszucki, Roblox’s CEO, described the alliance as a means to democratize game creation, stating that it would "enable anyone anywhere to become a creator by lowering the technical barriers to entry traditionally associated with game development." He emphasized that the collaboration would help realize the vision for creators across Saudi Arabia and dovetail with the expansion of the Kingdom’s creator ecosystem under Vision 2030.
Roblox’s expansion is tightly woven into Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification plan. Vision 2030 seeks to shift the nation away from an oil‑dependent economy toward sectors such as entertainment, tourism, and technology. Within this framework, the gaming industry is identified as a high‑growth area capable of generating jobs, fostering innovation, and enhancing the country’s cultural footprint on the global stage. The company’s roadmap includes substantial investment in video‑game development, with a target of nurturing 250 game studios and esports enterprises by the end of the decade.
In addition, Roblox aims to create approximately 39,000 new jobs across the gaming value chain, ranging from software engineering and artistic design to community management and esports event coordination. These figures reflect both direct employment within Roblox‑affiliated firms and indirect opportunities that will arise as ancillary services—such as marketing, education, and infrastructure—expand to meet the needs of a burgeoning digital entertainment sector. Education will be a cornerstone of Roblox’s strategy in Saudi Arabia.
The firm plans to collaborate with local schools, universities, and vocational institutes to embed game‑design curricula into existing programs. By offering workshops, hackathons, and mentorship schemes, Roblox hopes to equip Saudi youth with the technical skills and creative confidence required to produce high‑quality interactive experiences.
This focus on talent development aligns with the Kingdom’s emphasis on nurturing a knowledge‑based economy and preparing the next generation for high‑skill employment. Beyond job creation, the Riyadh headquarters is expected to act as an incubator for culturally resonant content. Roblox encourages developers to draw upon regional stories, folklore, and contemporary life, thereby producing games that reflect the unique heritage of the Middle East while appealing to a global audience.
Such culturally informed content can help Saudi Arabia project a modern, creative image internationally, supporting the soft‑power objectives embedded in Vision 2030. The partnership with Savvy Games Group also brings technical infrastructure improvements, such as enhanced server capacity and localized data centers, which will reduce latency for users in the region. Faster, more reliable connectivity is essential for delivering seamless multiplayer experiences and for supporting the large‑scale events that esports tournaments demand. Overall, Roblox’s decision to open a regional hub in Riyadh represents a strategic alignment of corporate ambition with national policy.
By investing in creator tools, educational initiatives, and industry‑wide partnerships, the company aims to accelerate the growth of Saudi Arabia’s digital entertainment ecosystem. The anticipated outcomes include a vibrant community of homegrown developers, a diversified job market, and a stronger global presence for Saudi‑origin gaming content—all key milestones on the path to achieving Vision 2030’s long‑term objectives.