Roblox has revealed that it will be setting up a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step aimed at strengthening its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The announcement, which was highlighted 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 the MENA region and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the hub in Riyadh underscores the company’s enduring commitment to Saudi Arabia and its 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,” he said.
El Sheakh added that the new office will build on existing collaborations in education, creator development, and the wider gaming landscape. He expressed optimism that Roblox will be able to fund and deliver 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 headquarters follows a strategic partnership announced earlier in the year with Savvy Games Group, a Saudi‑based entity that focuses on expanding gaming infrastructure in the region. Through this alliance, Roblox intends to make its development tools and support services more accessible to local developers, lowering the technical hurdles that traditionally separate hobbyists from professional game creators.
Dave Baszucki, Roblox’s chief executive officer, described the collaboration as a catalyst for democratizing game creation. “The partnership enables anyone anywhere to become a creator by lowering the technical barriers to entry traditionally associated with game development,” Baszucki said. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which seeks to nurture a vibrant creator economy.
“[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,” he added. Roblox also highlighted the broader societal impact it hopes to achieve. The company believes that investing in high‑quality, educational experiences for Saudi youth will feed directly into the nation’s rapidly expanding digital sector.
“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 affirmed. Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s flagship development plan, aims to diversify the country’s oil‑dependent economy by fostering new industries such as technology, entertainment, and esports. Roblox’s expanded footprint is positioned to support these objectives by creating a pipeline of locally produced games and digital experiences. The company’s roadmap includes ambitious targets: by 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to host roughly 250 video‑game and esports firms and generate about 39,000 new jobs in the sector.
In practical terms, the Riyadh office will serve as a hub for talent development, offering workshops, mentorship programs, and resources that help aspiring creators turn ideas into publishable games on the Roblox platform. It will also act as a liaison between the company and Saudi regulatory bodies, ensuring that content complies with local standards while still encouraging creative freedom. Beyond direct creator support, Roblox plans to collaborate with Saudi universities and technical institutes to integrate its engine into curricula, giving students hands‑on experience with a leading interactive‑media platform.
Such educational partnerships are expected to produce a pipeline of skilled developers who can contribute to both domestic projects and the global Roblox ecosystem. The initiative also aligns with the Kingdom’s broader push to position Riyadh as a cultural and creative hub. By anchoring a major international tech company within the city, Saudi Arabia hopes to attract further foreign investment, stimulate knowledge transfer, and showcase its commitment to a modern, diversified economy.
Overall, Roblox’s decision to open a regional headquarters in Riyadh represents a multifaceted strategy: it deepens the company’s presence in a fast‑growing market, supports the Saudi government’s Vision 2030 goals, and provides a platform for millions of aspiring creators across the MENA region to develop, share, and monetize their digital creations. The combination of governmental support, strategic partnerships, and a clear focus on education and job creation suggests that the move could have lasting impacts on both the regional gaming landscape and the broader digital economy of Saudi Arabia.