Roblox has unveiled a plan to set up a regional headquarters in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of strengthening its creator program across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement, reported by Pocket Gamer, highlights that the new office will be 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 MENA and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the regional hub in Riyadh reflects a deep, long‑term commitment to the Kingdom.
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 Roblox’s strategic alignment with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic diversification plan, known as Vision 2030, which seeks to reduce the country’s reliance on oil revenues and develop new sectors such as digital entertainment, education, and technology. El Sheakh added that Roblox will build on existing collaborations in the Kingdom that span education, creator development, and the broader gaming ecosystem. He expressed optimism about future initiatives, stating, “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.” The company’s expansion is expected to bring a suite of resources to local developers, educators, and aspiring game makers, offering them access to Roblox’s robust suite of creation tools, training programs, and community support.
The Riyadh headquarters follows an earlier partnership announced earlier this year between Roblox and Savvy Games Group, a Saudi‑based gaming conglomerate. That collaboration introduced Roblox’s development platform and technical assistance to the region’s gaming infrastructure, creating a pathway for Saudi talent to build and publish immersive experiences on a global stage. Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki described the alliance 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 would help realize the broader vision of nurturing creators throughout Saudi Arabia and aligning with the growth of the Kingdom’s creator ecosystem under Vision 2030. According to Baszucki, investing in high‑quality, educational opportunities for the next generation of Saudis is essential for the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
He noted, “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.” By offering structured learning pathways, mentorship, and hands‑on experience with Roblox’s tools, the company hopes to empower young Saudis to acquire valuable skills in coding, 3D design, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. Roblox’s expanded presence dovetails with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which include diversifying the national economy, fostering a vibrant cultural sector, and enhancing the Kingdom’s global image as a forward‑looking, technology‑driven nation. The gaming sector is a focal point of this strategy, with the government targeting the creation of 250 video‑game and esports companies and the generation of roughly 39,000 jobs by the end of the decade. Roblox’s investment is expected to contribute directly to these targets by nurturing local talent, encouraging the formation of start‑ups, and attracting foreign expertise.
Beyond the immediate economic impact, the Riyadh hub is poised to serve as a knowledge‑exchange center. It will host workshops, hackathons, and developer conferences designed to showcase best practices in game design, user‑generated content, and virtual‑world monetization. These events will bring together seasoned creators from around the world and emerging Saudi developers, fostering a collaborative environment that can accelerate innovation and cross‑cultural creativity. In addition, Roblox plans to partner with Saudi educational institutions to integrate its platform into curricula, allowing students to learn programming concepts through interactive, play‑based experiences.
Such initiatives align with broader educational reforms in the Kingdom that aim to equip youth with digital competencies required for the jobs of the future. Overall, the establishment of a Roblox headquarters in Riyadh signals a significant step toward embedding the company within the fabric of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation agenda. By providing tools, training, and a supportive ecosystem, Roblox hopes to empower a new generation of creators, stimulate economic diversification, and position Saudi Arabia as a leading hub for gaming and interactive media in the MENA region and beyond.