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 venture 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 MENA and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the hub in Riyadh is a clear indicator of the company’s enduring commitment to Saudi Arabia.
He said the headquarters reflects Roblox’s long‑term investment strategy and its desire to align with the Kingdom’s broader digital‑economy ambitions 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. El Sheakh added that Roblox is building on existing collaborations in the country that span education, creator development, and the wider gaming ecosystem. He expressed optimism that the new office will enable the company to fund and launch programs that help Saudi Arabia achieve its goal of becoming a worldwide gaming hub.
"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 follows a strategic partnership announced earlier this year with Savvy Games Group, a joint venture that aims to bring Roblox’s development tools and support services to the local gaming infrastructure. The partnership is intended to lower the technical barriers that have traditionally made game development a specialized field, thereby opening the door for a broader range of individuals to become creators. Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki described the collaboration as a way to "enable anyone anywhere to become a creator by lowering the technical barriers to entry traditionally associated with game development." He emphasized that this approach aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which seeks to nurture a vibrant creator ecosystem.
"[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. Beyond the partnership, Roblox’s leadership highlighted the importance of investing in high‑quality educational initiatives for Saudi youth. The company believes that equipping the next generation with digital‑creation skills will not only empower individuals but also fuel the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s 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 added. Roblox’s expanded footprint in Saudi Arabia dovetails with the broader objectives of Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil dependence and to raise its profile on the global stage. Among the many sectors targeted for growth, video games and esports have been singled out as priority areas. The government has set ambitious targets, aiming to launch 250 gaming and esports companies and to generate approximately 39,000 jobs in the sector by the end of the decade.
The new Riyadh headquarters is expected to serve as a catalyst for these goals. By providing local developers with access to Roblox’s robust suite of creation tools, training programs, and community resources, the company hopes to stimulate a surge in home‑grown games and interactive experiences.
This, in turn, could attract regional and international investment, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s reputation as an emerging hub for digital entertainment. In addition to developer support, Roblox plans to collaborate with Saudi educational institutions to integrate its platform into curricula focused on coding, design, and entrepreneurship. Such initiatives aim to foster a pipeline of talent that can sustain the gaming industry’s growth and contribute to broader economic diversification efforts.
The strategic move also reflects a global trend of major tech firms establishing regional bases in the Middle East to tap into a youthful, digitally savvy population. With a median age of around 30 and high mobile‑device penetration, the MENA region presents a fertile market for interactive platforms that blend entertainment with social interaction and learning. Roblox’s decision to anchor its MENA operations in Riyadh underscores the company's belief that the Kingdom offers a supportive regulatory environment, access to capital, and a forward‑looking vision for technology.
By aligning its corporate strategy with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Roblox hopes to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of digital creation in the region, while also expanding its own global user base. Overall, the establishment of a Saudi headquarters represents a significant investment in infrastructure, talent development, and partnership building. It signals Roblox’s confidence that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic reforms and cultural openness will create a thriving ecosystem for creators, developers, and gamers alike, ultimately contributing to the Kingdom’s long‑term goal of becoming a leading player in the global gaming and esports landscape.