Roblox has revealed its intention to set up a regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step aimed at strengthening its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The plan, which has been highlighted in a recent Pocket Gamer report, is being backed by 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 the MENA region and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the new hub in Riyadh reflects the company’s deep‑seated commitment to Saudi Arabia and its broader ambition to nurture the Kingdom’s digital‑economy goals 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 Roblox intends to build on existing collaborations in the country that span education, creator development, and the wider gaming landscape. “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 noted.
The Riyadh office will serve as a central point for a range of initiatives, from training programs that teach young Saudis how to design and publish immersive experiences on the Roblox platform, to incubator‑style support for independent developers seeking to launch games that can reach a worldwide audience. By offering localized resources, mentorship, and access to Roblox’s extensive suite of development tools, the company hopes to lower the technical barriers that have traditionally limited entry into game creation.
Earlier this year, Roblox entered into a partnership with Savvy Games Group, a move that introduced the platform’s development toolkit and support services to the Saudi gaming infrastructure. This collaboration was highlighted by Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki, who described it 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 aligns with the broader vision of empowering creators throughout Saudi Arabia and dovetails with the Kingdom’s push to expand its creator economy under Vision 2030. The strategic alignment with Vision 2030 is a recurring theme in Roblox’s messaging.
The Saudi government’s long‑term plan seeks to diversify the nation’s oil‑dependent economy by fostering sectors such as technology, entertainment, and sports. Within this framework, the gaming industry is expected to play a pivotal role.
The Kingdom has set ambitious targets, including the establishment of 250 video‑game and esports companies and the creation of roughly 39,000 jobs in the sector by the end of the decade. Roblox’s expanded footprint in Saudi Arabia is therefore more than a simple corporate expansion; it is a concerted effort to contribute to a national agenda that aims to position the Kingdom as a regional, and eventually global, hub for digital entertainment.
By providing a platform where users can both consume and produce content, Roblox hopes to nurture a vibrant creator community that can generate economic value, cultural exchange, and innovative talent. In practical terms, the Riyadh headquarters will likely host a team of regional product managers, community liaisons, and education specialists tasked with tailoring Roblox’s global offerings to local tastes and regulatory requirements. This includes ensuring that content complies with the standards set by the General Authority of Media Regulation, while also promoting culturally relevant experiences that resonate with Saudi and broader MENA audiences.
Education is a cornerstone of the initiative. Roblox plans to partner with schools, universities, and vocational institutes to embed game‑design curricula into existing programs. Workshops, hackathons, and mentorship schemes are expected to give students hands‑on experience with scripting, 3D modeling, and user‑experience design—skills that are increasingly valuable in a digital‑first economy. By fostering these competencies, Roblox aims to create a pipeline of talent that can feed into both local startups and multinational studios operating in the region.
Beyond education, the company is also looking at ways to support established developers. This could involve grant programs, co‑development opportunities, and access to a global marketplace where Saudi‑made games can be showcased to millions of players worldwide. Such support mechanisms are designed to accelerate the growth of homegrown studios, helping them achieve scale and sustainability. The partnership with Savvy Games Group also opens doors for deeper integration with Saudi Arabia’s existing gaming infrastructure, including potential collaborations with local telecom providers, payment processors, and distribution networks.
By aligning its technology stack with regional partners, Roblox aims to ensure a seamless user experience that meets local expectations for performance, security, and payment convenience. Overall, the launch of a Riyadh headquarters signals Roblox’s belief that the MENA region, and Saudi Arabia in particular, represents a fertile ground for the next wave of digital creators. By combining investment, education, and localized support, the company hopes to empower a new generation of developers who can contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives while also enriching the global Roblox ecosystem with fresh, culturally diverse content.
As the initiative rolls out over the coming months and years, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how effectively Roblox can translate its platform’s global success into tangible economic and creative outcomes for Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East.