Grand Theft Auto 5 Finally Becomes Available in Two Regions After 12 Years

As of today, Grand Theft Auto 5 is finally available in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Rockstar’s crime simulator franchise is no stranger to controversy, so it isn’t necessarily surprising that the two Middle Eastern nations had banned it in the first place. However, more than a decade after its release, things have turned around for Grand Theft Auto 5, and the shift might instill hope for future installments.

The Middle East may not have a reputation for being a video game hub, but the region has shown an openness to the gaming industry lately. In 2024, the International Olympic Committee announced that Saudi Arabia would host the first Olympic eSports Games, originally set to take place in 2025 but now delayed until 2027. Now, Saudi Arabia and its neighbor, the UAE, have gone further by lifting their respective bans on one of the best-selling games in history.

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On July 3, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Media Regulation tweeted that GTA 5 and GTA Online would become available in the nation on July 17. That same day, the official PlayStation Arabia account announced that the UAE would make both games available on July 17 as well. The games landed a 21+ rating in Saudi Arabia, which may be stricter than the ESRB’s M for Mature rating, but still means gamers of a legal age can buy and play them in a region that had banned them for years. Lifting the ban after so much time is a bit of a surprise, especially considering how GTA 5 has what may be the franchise’s most controversial mission and the sheer length of the restriction up until this point.

GTA 5 Is Now Available in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

It could be that the Saudi and UAE governments have loosened their standards on what justifies a ban in the past decade. Alternatively, it may be that GTA 5 no longer seems as mature as it once did. Whatever the case, it’s good news for Rockstar. Despite its age, the game keeps selling well, with GTA 5′s lifetime sales surpassing 215 million copies earlier this year. Being available to buy and play in two regions where it was previously illegal could bump sales even higher.

Grand Theft Auto 5 may be 12 years old, but now more gamers have something to tide them over amid GTA 6‘s delayed release to 2026. It’s unclear if the next entry in the series will be available in the UAE and Saudi Arabia now that its predecessor is, but regulators at least have GTA 5 as a frame of reference now.

Grand Theft Auto 5

9/10

Released

September 17, 2013

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

Publisher(s)

Rockstar Games

Engine

Rockstar Advanced Game Engine