Roblox has revealed that it will set up a regional headquarters in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of strengthening its creator program across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The decision, which was highlighted in a recent Pocket Gamer article, is being backed by several key Saudi institutions, including the Ministry of Investment, the Riyadh Creative District, and the General Authority for Media Regulation. Mohamed El Sheakh, Roblox’s General Manager for MENA and Turkey, explained that the choice of Riyadh reflects a deep, long‑term commitment to the Kingdom’s 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,” he said. El Sheakh added that Roblox intends to build on existing collaborations in education, creator development, and the broader gaming ecosystem, and that the new office will serve as a hub for programming that helps Saudi Arabia become a worldwide centre for gaming. The announcement comes on the heels of a partnership earlier this year with Savvy Games Group, a Saudi‑based gaming conglomerate.
That alliance was designed to bring Roblox’s development tools and support services to the local market, making it easier for Saudi developers to create and publish experiences on the platform. Dave Baszucki, Roblox’s chief executive officer, described the collaboration as a way to “enable anyone anywhere to become a creator by lowering the technical barriers to entry traditionally associated with game development.” He emphasized that the partnership would help realize a broader vision for creators throughout Saudi Arabia and would dovetail with the Kingdom’s growing creator ecosystem under Vision 2030.
Roblox’s expansion into Saudi Arabia aligns with the broader goals of Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the nation’s oil‑dependent economy, foster a knowledge‑based society, and raise the country’s profile on the global stage. By investing in high‑quality, educational opportunities for Saudi youth, Roblox hopes to contribute to the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s digital sector. The company believes that nurturing the next generation of game designers, programmers, and digital storytellers will not only enrich the local creative landscape but also generate new employment prospects and stimulate ancillary industries. The Riyadh headquarters will serve multiple functions.
First, it will act as a regional hub for Roblox’s creator‑support initiatives, offering workshops, mentorship programs, and technical training tailored to the needs of MENA developers. Second, it will coordinate with Saudi educational institutions to integrate Roblox’s platform into curricula that focus on coding, 3D design, and entrepreneurship. Third, the office will work closely with government agencies to ensure that Roblox’s activities align with national policies on digital transformation, data protection, and cultural preservation. In practical terms, Roblox plans to invest heavily in the local gaming ecosystem.
According to the company’s roadmap, the goal is to help launch 250 new games and esports organisations within Saudi Arabia by 2030. This ambitious target is expected to create roughly 39,000 jobs across a range of roles, from game designers and artists to marketing specialists and community managers. The anticipated job growth reflects the broader expectation that the gaming sector will become a pillar of the Saudi economy, contributing to diversification and fostering a vibrant, creative workforce. Beyond direct economic impact, Roblox’s presence is likely to influence cultural exchange and soft power.
By providing a platform where Saudi creators can share their stories, traditions, and perspectives with a global audience, the company helps project a modern, innovative image of the Kingdom. At the same time, Saudi users will gain access to a vast library of user‑generated content from around the world, encouraging cross‑cultural dialogue and learning. The partnership with Savvy Games Group also includes plans to develop localized infrastructure, such as data centres and cloud services, to ensure low‑latency gameplay for users across the region.
This technical investment will improve the overall user experience and make Roblox a more attractive platform for both creators and players in the Middle East. Roblox’s strategic move into Saudi Arabia is part of a larger trend of global tech firms establishing regional bases in the Gulf to tap into the region’s youthful, digitally‑savvy population.
With a median age of around 30 and high smartphone penetration, the MENA market offers a fertile ground for platforms that blend entertainment with creation. Roblox’s emphasis on user‑generated content and its educational tools position it well to capture this emerging demand. In summary, Roblox’s decision to open a headquarters in Riyadh signals a deepening of its commitment to the MENA region, particularly Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 agenda.
By partnering with local authorities, educational institutions, and industry players, the company aims to lower barriers for aspiring creators, stimulate job creation, and foster a thriving digital economy. The initiative is expected to have lasting effects on the Kingdom’s gaming landscape, its cultural outreach, and its broader economic diversification goals.