Roblox has revealed that it will establish a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step designed to bolster its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement, reported by Pocket Gamer, highlights that the project enjoys the backing of 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 underscores the company’s deep‑rooted commitment to Saudi Arabia and its broader digital‑economy agenda 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 the new office will build on existing collaborations in education, creator development, and the wider gaming ecosystem, and will enable Roblox to fund programs that help Saudi Arabia evolve into a world‑class gaming hub. The Riyadh office follows an earlier partnership announced this year with Savvy Games Group, a joint venture that aims to bring Roblox’s development tools and support services to the Kingdom’s gaming infrastructure. In that partnership, Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki emphasized the company’s mission to lower the technical barriers that have traditionally kept many aspiring developers from entering the industry.
“We want to enable anyone, anywhere, to become a creator by reducing the complexity of game development,” Baszucki explained. He noted that the collaboration will help realize that vision for creators throughout Saudi Arabia and will dovetail with the growth of the nation’s creator ecosystem under Vision 2030. Roblox’s expansion into Saudi Arabia is part of a broader strategy to align with the kingdom’s ambitious diversification plan.
Vision 2030 seeks to shift the economic base away from oil dependency toward sectors such as entertainment, tourism, and technology. By investing in high‑quality, educational opportunities for Saudi youth, Roblox hopes to contribute to the rapid expansion of the digital economy.
“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,” Baszucki said. The new headquarters will serve as a hub for local talent, offering training, mentorship, and resources to help Saudi developers create immersive experiences on the Roblox platform. It will also act as a liaison point for partnerships with schools, universities, and vocational institutes, integrating game‑based learning into curricula and fostering a pipeline of skilled creators.
In addition to educational initiatives, Roblox plans to support the commercial side of the industry. The company aims to help launch at least 250 new games and esports ventures in Saudi Arabia by 2030, a target that aligns with the kingdom’s goal of creating 39,000 jobs in the gaming and esports sectors. These figures illustrate the scale of the investment and the confidence Roblox has in the region’s potential to become a vibrant hub for interactive entertainment.
The presence of the Riyadh Creative District, a government‑backed zone dedicated to fostering artistic and technological innovation, provides an ideal environment for Roblox’s activities. The district offers infrastructure, tax incentives, and a network of creative professionals that can accelerate the development of locally produced content. By situating its headquarters within this ecosystem, Roblox can more easily collaborate with other innovators, share best practices, and attract international attention to Saudi‑made games.
Roblox’s strategy also includes a focus on community building. The company intends to host regular events, hackathons, and developer conferences in Riyadh, giving Saudi creators opportunities to showcase their work, receive feedback, and connect with global peers. These gatherings will be complemented by online resources, such as tutorials, mentorship programs, and a dedicated support team fluent in Arabic, ensuring that language barriers do not impede participation.
From a broader perspective, the move reflects a global trend of major tech firms establishing regional bases in emerging markets to tap into local talent and consumer bases. For Roblox, the MENA region represents a rapidly growing user base with high mobile penetration and a youthful demographic eager for interactive experiences. By providing a physical foothold in the kingdom, Roblox can better understand cultural nuances, tailor its platform to regional preferences, and comply with local regulations.
Overall, the establishment of a Roblox headquarters in Riyadh signals a long‑term commitment to nurturing a thriving creator economy in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. It aligns with Vision 2030’s objectives of economic diversification, job creation, and cultural development, while also offering Saudi youth a pathway into the global gaming industry. As the partnership with Savvy Games Group matures and new educational programs roll out, the expectation is that Saudi Arabia will emerge as a notable player in the interactive entertainment landscape, contributing innovative games, esports teams, and a vibrant community of creators to the worldwide Roblox ecosystem.