As of today,Grand Theft Auto 5is 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 forGrand 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 thatSaudi 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.
On July 3, Saudi Arabia’sGeneral Authority of Media Regulation tweetedthatGTA 5andGTA Onlinewould become available in the nation on July 17. That same day, theofficial PlayStation Arabia account announcedthat 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 howGTA 5has what may be the franchise’s most controversial missionand 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 thatGTA 5no 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, withGTA 5’s lifetime sales surpassing 215 million copiesearlier this year. Being available to buy and play in two regions where it was previously illegal could bump sales even higher.
Grand Theft Auto 5may be 12 years old, but now more gamers have something to tide them over amidGTA 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 haveGTA 5as a frame of reference now.
