Roblox has revealed that it will set up a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with the explicit purpose of bolstering its creator program across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement, which was covered by Pocket Gamer, notes that the venture enjoys backing from several key Saudi institutions, including the Ministry of Investment, the Riyadh Creative District, and the General Authority of Media Regulation. These partners will help ensure that the new office is well‑integrated into the Kingdom’s broader digital‑economy strategy. Mohamed El Sheikh, Roblox’s General Manager for MENA and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the regional hub in Riyadh reflects a deep, long‑term commitment to the Saudi market.
“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. He added that the company plans to build on existing collaborations in education, creator development, and the wider gaming ecosystem, and that it will invest in programming that aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global gaming hub. The move follows an earlier partnership announced this year with Savvy Games Group, a Saudi‑based entity that is tasked with bringing Roblox’s development tools and support services to the region’s gaming infrastructure. In that partnership, Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki emphasized the company’s mission to lower technical barriers so that anyone, regardless of location, can become a creator.
“[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,” Baszucki said. He also highlighted the importance of investing in high‑quality, educational opportunities for Saudi youth, noting that such initiatives will feed directly into the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding digital economy. Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive plan to diversify the economy away from oil dependence, places a strong emphasis on technology, entertainment, and creative industries.
Roblox’s new headquarters is seen as a tangible contribution toward those goals. By establishing a physical presence in Riyadh, Roblox aims to nurture local talent, provide training programs, and create pathways for Saudi developers to launch games on the global Roblox platform.
The company also intends to collaborate with schools and universities to integrate game‑design curricula, thereby equipping students with the skills needed for future employment in the digital sector. Beyond education, Roblox plans to invest in the broader gaming ecosystem. The firm has outlined ambitions to help launch 250 new games and esports companies within Saudi Arabia by 2030, a target that aligns with the Kingdom’s broader aim of creating 39,000 jobs in the gaming and entertainment sectors. These jobs are expected to span a variety of roles, from game designers and programmers to community managers and marketing specialists.
By fostering a vibrant creator community, Roblox hopes to stimulate a cascade of ancillary services, such as localization, payment processing, and digital‑asset marketplaces, all of which will further embed the platform within the Saudi economy. The Riyadh Creative District, one of the partners supporting the headquarters, is itself a hub for artistic and technological innovation. Its involvement signals that Roblox will have access to a network of designers, animators, and technologists who can collaborate on projects that blend cultural heritage with cutting‑edge interactive experiences. This synergy could lead to games that showcase Saudi history, folklore, and contemporary life, offering both local and international audiences a richer understanding of the region.
In practical terms, the new office will serve as a base for regional sales, marketing, and developer relations teams. It will also house a dedicated support center for creators, providing technical assistance, best‑practice guidance, and mentorship programs. By centralising these functions in Riyadh, Roblox can respond more quickly to the unique needs of MENA creators, tailor its platform features to local preferences, and ensure compliance with regional regulations.
Overall, Roblox’s expansion into Saudi Arabia represents a strategic alignment of corporate ambition with national policy. The company’s investment in infrastructure, talent development, and ecosystem building is designed to accelerate the Kingdom’s transition toward a knowledge‑based economy. If successful, the initiative could serve as a model for other global tech firms seeking to contribute to Vision 2030 while tapping into a youthful, digitally‑savvy population eager to create and consume interactive content. The long‑term impact may be measured not only in the number of games launched or jobs created, but also in the emergence of a vibrant, homegrown creator culture that positions Saudi Arabia as a leading player in the worldwide gaming landscape.