An overview of approvals in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Historically, video game approvals in the region have been constrained by conservative regulations leading to a high number of bans for games that featured strong violence, sexual content, substance use, or themes conflicting with local religious or cultural norms. The first signs of change came in 2016, when Saudi Arabia introduced localized age ratings that replaced their reliance on the PEGI system.
This allowed titles such as God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2, which would typically have been banned under the prior system, to gain delayed approvals after tweaks were made to content and localization. However, titles like Final Fantasy XVI remained banned under this system after failing to meet local requirements.
The introduction of a 21+ age rating in the country, which is higher than PEGI’s 18+ rating, is a notable move and is allowing Grand Theft Auto V to launch without any major modification to content. This is a positive signal for the industry as it potentially allows games to be approved without edits, thereby offering publishers a viable path to market for games that would normally be blocked.
What this means for game developers and publishers
This development sends a strong signal to global publishers who may have been wary of the regulatory environment in the past. By introducing the 21+ rating, regulators are set to establish a clearer framework for adult content, which could encourage more publishers to include the region in global release plans from day one. Niko Partners has seen increasing demand for localized games in the MENA-3 region (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, & Egypt) which we have tracked for nearly half a decade.
According to our 2025 MENA-3 Gamer Behavior & Market Insights Report, which includes a survey of 1,580 gamers, over 90% of PC and console gamers in the region are over the age of 21, aligning with the new age rating classification. The MENA-3 market will grow from $2.0 billion in 2024 to $2.8 billion in 2029 at a 5-year CAGR of 6.8%. The total number of gamers in the region is also projected to reach 84.3 million in 2029.
The announcement also comes on the heels of a broader strategic partnership between Saudi-based Advanced Initiative Company and Take-Two Interactive, which will see the former act as the local distributor for major titles such as GTA V, WWE 2K, NBA 2K, and Red Dead Redemption. Numerous local publishers, distributors, and marketing firms have signed deals or are looking to sign deals with IP holders to bring games to the region as demand increases and as the regulatory environment becomes more open.
Religious and cultural values still play an important role
While the regulatory shift is a positive step for the industry, we note that gamers in the region are highly opiniated and cultural sensitivity still plays a large role. Our 2025 gamer survey shows that 57% of gamers in MENA-3 would consider whether to stop playing a game if it included content they deemed religiously or culturally offensive.
Adherence to religious values ranked as the second most important factor for gamers in the region when choosing a new game, underscoring the importance of respectful localization practices. Games are often criticized and even boycotted when they include offensive content or are perceived to be disrespectful of certain religious or cultural aspects.
In Summary
The formal release of GTA V and GTA Online in Saudi Arabia and the UAE marks a pivotal moment for the regional games market. It reflects a strategic shift toward regulatory liberalization and economic opportunity, while still balancing cultural considerations. Many in the region see this as paving the way for an official day-one release of Grand Theft Auto VI, as well as distribution of other games with adult content that may have previously been blocked. There’s no doubt that MENA is quickly becoming an attractive region for global publishers looking to expand their reach.
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