Roblox has revealed that it will set up a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step designed to strengthen its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The announcement, reported by Pocket Gamer, notes that the project receives backing from several Saudi entities, 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 base the regional office in Riyadh reflects the company’s deep‑rooted commitment to Saudi Arabia and its broader 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 Kingdom that span education, creator development, and the broader 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 hub for a suite of initiatives aimed at empowering local developers, educators, and young talent.
By providing access to Roblox’s development tools, the company hopes to lower the technical barriers that have traditionally made game creation a niche activity. This effort follows an earlier partnership announced this year with Savvy Games Group, which introduced Roblox’s creator tools and developer support to the region’s gaming infrastructure. Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki described the Savvy Games Group 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 the partnership aligns with the Kingdom’s ambition to nurture a vibrant creator ecosystem under Vision 2030. “[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 technical side, Roblox is also investing in educational programs that teach coding, game design, and digital storytelling. The company believes that equipping Saudi youth with high‑quality, future‑focused learning opportunities will not only enrich individual skill sets but also fuel the broader digital economy that Vision 2030 seeks to cultivate. “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 long‑term development blueprint, aims to diversify the nation’s oil‑dependent economy by expanding sectors such as entertainment, tourism, and technology.
Gaming is a key pillar of this diversification strategy, with the government targeting the establishment of 250 video‑game and esports companies and the creation of roughly 39,000 jobs by the end of the decade. Roblox’s expanded presence dovetails neatly with these objectives, offering a platform that can generate both employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The new headquarters will also act as a liaison point for local policy makers, industry leaders, and educational institutions. By fostering dialogue among these stakeholders, Roblox hopes to shape a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while safeguarding user safety and data privacy.
The involvement of the General Authority of Media Regulation suggests that the company is committed to adhering to Saudi standards and contributing to the development of responsible content guidelines. In practical terms, the Riyadh office will host workshops, hackathons, and mentorship programs that bring together seasoned developers and aspiring creators. These events are intended to showcase best practices, share technical know‑how, and inspire participants to launch their own games on the Roblox platform. The company also plans to offer localized support services, including Arabic‑language documentation and customer assistance, to ensure that language is not a barrier to entry.
Roblox’s strategy in the region reflects a broader trend of global tech firms establishing physical footprints in Saudi Arabia to tap into its youthful, digitally‑savvy population. With over 30 percent of the Kingdom’s residents under the age of 25, there is a sizable audience eager to both consume and produce interactive content. By providing an accessible, user‑generated content platform, Roblox aims to capture this enthusiasm and translate it into sustainable economic activity. Overall, the establishment of a Saudi Arabian headquarters underscores Roblox’s long‑term vision for the MENA market.
It signals confidence in the Kingdom’s regulatory reforms, investment climate, and commitment to building a knowledge‑based economy. As the platform continues to grow, it is poised to become a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s cultural and economic transformation, helping the nation achieve the ambitious milestones set out in Vision 2030.