Roblox has disclosed that it will be establishing 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, which was highlighted by Pocket Gamer, notes that the venture 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 signals a deep, long‑term commitment to the Kingdom’s digital future. He said, "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." This statement underscores the strategic alignment between Roblox’s growth plans and Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification agenda.
El Sheakh added that the company is building on existing collaborations in the Kingdom that span education, creator development, and the wider gaming ecosystem. "We look forward to investing in programming that will support Saudi Arabia's goal to become a global hub for gaming," he remarked, indicating that future initiatives will likely include training programs, hackathons, and partnerships with local schools and universities to nurture home‑grown talent. The Riyadh office follows an earlier partnership announced earlier this year with Savvy Games Group, a joint venture that aims to introduce Roblox’s development tools and support services to the region’s gaming infrastructure. This collaboration is intended to lower the technical barriers that have traditionally limited entry into game creation, thereby democratizing the process and allowing a broader swath of Saudi youth to become content creators.
Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki described the Savvy Games Group partnership 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 initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan to transform Saudi Arabia into a knowledge‑based 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," Baszucki said. Beyond the partnership, Roblox’s leadership expressed confidence that investing in high‑quality educational opportunities for the next generation of Saudis will have a ripple effect throughout the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy. By providing access to cutting‑edge development tools, mentorship, and community resources, Roblox aims to cultivate a pipeline of skilled creators who can contribute to both local and global markets.
Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s flagship development strategy, seeks to diversify the nation’s oil‑dependent economy by fostering growth in sectors such as entertainment, tourism, and technology. Roblox’s expanded presence dovetails with these objectives, offering a platform that can generate new jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship, and attract foreign investment.
The company’s plan includes significant financial commitments to the gaming sector, with targets that aim to establish 250 gaming and esports companies and create roughly 39,000 new jobs by the end of the decade. The establishment of the Riyadh headquarters is expected to serve as a catalyst for several key initiatives. First, it will provide a physical space for local developers to collaborate with Roblox engineers and product teams, facilitating knowledge transfer and joint project development.
Second, the office will host workshops, bootcamps, and certification programs tailored to the Saudi market, ensuring that aspiring creators acquire the technical skills and business acumen needed to succeed. In addition, Roblox plans to work closely with Saudi educational institutions to integrate its platform into curricula focused on coding, digital design, and entrepreneurship.
By aligning its tools with national education standards, the company hopes to make game development a viable career path for students from an early age. The partnership with Savvy Games Group also opens the door for localized content creation that reflects Saudi culture, heritage, and values.
This cultural relevance can help attract a broader domestic audience while also showcasing Saudi creativity on the global stage. Roblox’s platform, which supports user‑generated experiences, offers an ideal venue for storytellers to share narratives rooted in the Kingdom’s rich history and contemporary life. Overall, Roblox’s decision to set up a regional hub in Riyadh underscores a strategic bet on the MENA region’s growing appetite for interactive entertainment and digital creation.
By aligning its objectives with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the company positions itself as a partner in the Kingdom’s transformation, promising not only economic benefits but also a vibrant, inclusive community for future creators.