Roblox has disclosed that it will establish a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, a step designed to strengthen its creator program across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement, reported by Pocket Gamer, highlights that the venture is being backed by several Saudi institutions, including the Ministry of Investment, the Riyadh Creative District, and the General Authority of Media Regulation. Mohamed El Sheikh, Roblox’s General Manager for MENA and Turkey, explained that the decision to locate the hub in Riyadh signals the company’s enduring commitment to the Kingdom and its broader digital‑economy ambitions under 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 Sheikh added that Roblox intends to build on existing collaborations in Saudi Arabia 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 noted, underscoring the strategic alignment between Roblox’s growth plans and the Kingdom’s push to position itself as a leader in interactive entertainment. The Riyadh office follows a partnership announced earlier in the year with Savvy Games Group, a Saudi‑based entity that will help bring Roblox’s development tools and support services to local creators. Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki described that alliance as a means of democratizing game creation, saying it will "enable anyone, anywhere to become a creator by lowering the technical barriers to entry traditionally associated with game development." Baszucki emphasized that the collaboration is meant to realize a broader vision for Saudi creators and to dovetail with the expansion of the Kingdom’s 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," he said. He also stressed the importance of investing in high‑quality educational opportunities for Saudi youth, arguing that such initiatives will feed the rapidly expanding digital economy. Roblox’s expanded footprint in the region is part of a larger national strategy to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil dependency.
Vision 2030 outlines a series of objectives aimed at fostering innovation, attracting foreign investment, and enhancing the country’s cultural and technological reputation on the world stage. Within this framework, the gaming sector is earmarked for significant growth, with targets that include the creation of 250 video‑game and esports companies and the generation of roughly 39,000 new jobs by the end of the decade. By setting up a dedicated headquarters, Roblox aims to act as both a catalyst and a conduit for these ambitions. The new office will house teams focused on local talent scouting, developer education, community outreach, and partnership development with schools, universities, and industry bodies.
These efforts are expected to nurture a pipeline of homegrown developers who can produce content that resonates with regional audiences while also reaching global markets. In practical terms, the Riyadh hub will provide creators with direct access to Roblox’s suite of development tools, mentorship programs, and funding opportunities.
Workshops and bootcamps will be organized to teach coding, 3D modeling, game design, and monetization strategies, thereby lowering the entry threshold for aspiring developers who might otherwise lack the resources to engage with sophisticated game‑creation platforms. Furthermore, Roblox plans to collaborate with Saudi educational institutions to embed its technology into curricula, promoting computational thinking and digital creativity from an early age. Such initiatives align with the Kingdom’s broader educational reforms, which aim to equip students with skills relevant to a knowledge‑based economy.
The establishment of the headquarters also signals confidence in the stability and business‑friendly environment that Saudi Arabia is cultivating for tech firms. Recent regulatory reforms, tax incentives, and the creation of specialized zones like the Riyadh Creative District have made the country an attractive destination for multinational companies seeking to tap into the burgeoning MENA market.
Overall, Roblox’s move to Riyadh represents a multifaceted strategy: it supports the company’s global expansion goals, provides Saudi creators with the tools and resources needed to thrive, and contributes to the nation’s Vision 2030 objectives of economic diversification, job creation, and cultural leadership in the digital age. As the platform continues to grow, the partnership between Roblox and Saudi Arabia is poised to generate a vibrant ecosystem where local talent can innovate, collaborate, and compete on a worldwide stage.