Roblox has revealed that it will set up a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step aimed at strengthening its creator program across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement, reported by Pocket Gamer, notes that the project 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 reflects the company’s deep‑rooted commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital‑economy ambitions under the Vision 2030 framework.
“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 Roblox intends to build on existing collaborations in the Kingdom that span education, creator development, and the broader gaming ecosystem.
“Building on our partnerships in Saudi Arabia across education, creator development, and the gaming ecosystem, we look forward to investing in programming that will support Saudi Arabia's goal to become a global hub for gaming,” he continued. The new office follows a strategic partnership announced earlier in the year with Savvy Games Group, a Saudi‑based entity that will help bring Roblox’s development tools and support services to the local gaming infrastructure. This alliance is designed to lower the technical barriers that traditionally prevent many aspiring developers from entering the game‑creation space. Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki described the collaboration as a means 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 Roblox’s broader vision for creators throughout Saudi Arabia and align with the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s creator ecosystem under Vision 2030.
“[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. “We firmly believe that investing in high‑quality, educational opportunities for the next generation of Saudis will contribute to the Kingdom’s rapidly growing digital economy.” Roblox’s expanded footprint in the region dovetails with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to diversify the national economy away from oil dependency and raise the country’s profile on the global stage. A key pillar of Vision 2030 is the development of a vibrant digital and entertainment sector, and Roblox’s presence is expected to accelerate that goal.
The company’s roadmap includes substantial financial commitments to the video‑games sector, with a target of establishing roughly 250 gaming and esports enterprises within the Kingdom by the end of the decade. In addition, Roblox aims to help generate around 39,000 new jobs in the gaming and related creative industries by 2030, providing career pathways for young Saudis and contributing to the broader economic diversification agenda. Beyond the direct economic impact, the Riyadh headquarters is set to serve as a hub for educational initiatives, workshops, and mentorship programs that will equip local talent with the skills needed to design, develop, and monetize immersive experiences on the Roblox platform. By fostering a pipeline of home‑grown developers, Roblox hopes to create a self‑sustaining creator community that can compete on a global scale.
The move also signals Roblox’s confidence in the MENA market’s growth potential. The region has seen a surge in internet penetration, mobile device usage, and interest in interactive entertainment, making it an attractive landscape for platforms that blend social interaction with user‑generated content. By anchoring its operations in Riyadh, Roblox can better understand regional preferences, cultural nuances, and regulatory requirements, ensuring that its offerings are both locally relevant and compliant. In summary, Roblox’s decision to establish a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia represents a multi‑faceted strategy: it supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, nurtures a burgeoning creator ecosystem, and positions the company as a leading player in the MENA gaming market.
The partnership with Savvy Games Group, combined with substantial investment in education and job creation, underscores Roblox’s long‑term vision of turning Saudi Arabia into a global gaming hub while empowering the next generation of Saudi creators to thrive in a digital economy.