Roblox has revealed that it will establish a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of nurturing its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The decision comes with backing from several key Saudi institutions, including the Ministry of Investment, the Riyadh Creative District, and the General Authority for Media Regulation, all of which see the venture as a strategic step toward building a vibrant digital economy. Mohamed El Sheakh, Roblox’s General Manager for MENA and Turkey, explained that locating the hub in Riyadh underscores the company’s enduring confidence in the Kingdom’s market and its alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda. “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 the new office will serve as a focal point for collaborations in education, creator development, and the broader gaming ecosystem, enabling Roblox to deepen its partnerships with local schools, universities, and tech incubators. The Riyadh office will not only act as an administrative center but also as a creative incubator where aspiring developers can receive mentorship, technical training, and access to Roblox’s suite of development tools.
By providing these resources, Roblox hopes to lower the barriers that traditionally prevent many individuals from entering game development, a goal echoed by CEO Dave Baszucki in earlier remarks about the company’s partnership with Savvy Games Group. Baszucki described the alliance as a means to "enable anyone, anywhere to become a creator by lowering the technical barriers to entry traditionally associated with game development." The Savvy Games Group partnership, announced earlier in the year, introduced Roblox’s development platform to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning gaming infrastructure. This collaboration is designed to integrate Roblox’s user‑generated content model with local talent pipelines, ensuring that Saudi creators can produce experiences that resonate both regionally and globally. According to Baszucki, the partnership will help "realise that vision for creators across Saudi Arabia and align with the growth of the Kingdom's creator ecosystem under Vision 2030." Roblox’s expansion aligns closely with Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan launched by the Saudi government to diversify the nation’s oil‑dependent economy and position the Kingdom as a leader in technology, entertainment, and innovation.
Part of this vision includes a target to develop 250 video‑game and esports companies and generate approximately 39,000 new jobs in the sector by the end of the decade. By investing in high‑quality educational programs and creator‑focused initiatives, Roblox aims to contribute directly to these ambitious employment and economic diversification goals. Beyond job creation, the Riyadh headquarters will serve as a hub for community events, hackathons, and workshops that bring together developers, educators, and industry experts. These gatherings are intended to foster a culture of collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing, and showcase success stories from the region’s creator community.
The company also plans to work closely with Saudi schools to integrate Roblox’s educational tools into curricula, emphasizing STEM learning through interactive, game‑based experiences. In practical terms, the new office will house a team of product managers, community liaisons, and technical support staff dedicated to tailoring Roblox’s platform to the cultural and linguistic nuances of the MENA audience. Localization efforts will include Arabic language support, region‑specific content moderation policies, and partnerships with local artists to ensure that in‑game assets reflect the heritage and values of the Middle East.
Roblox’s long‑term vision for the Kingdom extends beyond entertainment. By cultivating a robust creator economy, the company hopes to spur ancillary industries such as digital art, animation, and virtual event production.
These sectors can provide additional revenue streams and career pathways for Saudi youth, reinforcing the broader objectives of Vision 2030 to build a knowledge‑based economy. The announcement has been welcomed by Saudi officials, who view Roblox’s presence as a validation of the country’s ongoing reforms and its attractiveness to global tech firms.
The Ministry of Investment has highlighted the move as evidence that Saudi Arabia is becoming a preferred destination for foreign direct investment in the digital and creative sectors. Overall, Roblox’s decision to set up a headquarters in Riyadh represents a strategic alignment of corporate ambition with national development goals. By offering tools, training, and a supportive ecosystem, Roblox aims to empower a new generation of Saudi creators, stimulate job growth, and help position the Kingdom as a leading hub for gaming and interactive media on the world stage.