Roblox has unveiled plans to set up a regional headquarters in Riyadh, a strategic step aimed at strengthening its creator ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The announcement, reported by Pocket Gamer, highlights that the venture is being backed by several key 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 reflects a deep, long‑term commitment to the Kingdom’s digital‑economy ambitions outlined in Vision 2030. 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." El Sheakh added that the new office will build on existing collaborations in education, creator development, and the broader gaming landscape.
"By expanding 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 significant partnership announced earlier in the year with Savvy Games Group, a joint venture that brings Roblox’s development tools and support services to the Saudi market.
This alliance is intended to lower the technical barriers that traditionally prevent aspiring developers from entering the game‑creation space. 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." Baszucki emphasized that the partnership aligns with the broader vision for Saudi creators, stating, "[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." Both executives underscored the belief that investing in high‑quality, educational opportunities for Saudi youth will fuel the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
They argue that nurturing a new generation of skilled creators will not only diversify the local job market but also position Saudi Arabia as a competitive player on the global gaming stage. Roblox’s expansion is tightly interwoven with the objectives of Vision 2030, a comprehensive reform plan designed to reduce the country's reliance on oil, foster innovation, and enhance Saudi Arabia’s international reputation. Within this framework, the gaming sector is slated for substantial growth, with targets that include establishing 250 video‑game and esports companies and generating roughly 39,000 new jobs by the end of the decade. The establishment of the Riyadh headquarters is expected to serve multiple functions.
First, it will act as a regional hub for talent development, offering workshops, mentorship programs, and educational resources tailored to local creators. Second, it will provide a physical space for collaboration between Roblox engineers, local developers, and educational institutions, facilitating the exchange of technical knowledge and creative ideas. Third, the office will coordinate marketing and community‑building initiatives that aim to raise awareness of Roblox’s platform among Saudi youth and families. In practice, this means that schools and universities across the Kingdom could integrate Roblox‑based curricula into their technology and art programs, giving students hands‑on experience with 3D modeling, scripting, and game design.
Community events, such as hackathons and creator festivals, may also be organized to showcase local talent and attract international attention. The partnership with Savvy Games Group further amplifies these efforts by ensuring that the necessary infrastructure—such as cloud services, payment solutions, and regulatory compliance tools—is in place to support a thriving creator economy. By providing developers with a streamlined pipeline from concept to launch, Roblox hopes to accelerate the production of locally relevant games that reflect Saudi culture, narratives, and values. Analysts view Roblox’s move as part of a broader trend of Western tech firms establishing a foothold in the Gulf region, attracted by the region’s youthful demographics, high internet penetration, and supportive government policies.
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 explicitly calls for the development of a knowledge‑based economy, and interactive entertainment is seen as a key pillar of that strategy. Overall, Roblox’s decision to open a headquarters in Riyadh signals a decisive investment in the MENA market, with the aim of nurturing homegrown talent, expanding the local gaming industry, and contributing to the Kingdom’s ambitious economic diversification goals.
By combining educational outreach, developer support, and strategic partnerships, Roblox intends to create a sustainable ecosystem that empowers Saudi creators to compete on a global stage while reinforcing the cultural and economic objectives set forth by Vision 2030.