With its next franchise release less than a year away, Rockstar Games has finally been allowed to releaseGrand Theft Auto 5in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. While such a late game launch might seem strange, the reality is that some countries have very strict laws and regulations that keep developers and publishers from releasing titles with potentially objectionable material. Although issues with the age rating and depictions of sex, violence, and drug use previously prevented the release ofGrand Theft Auto 5in these countries, it appears those concerns have been addressed.
Despite the fact thatGrand Theft Auto 5has been released multiple times in several markets around the world, spread across at least 3 console generations of gaming, it remains one of the most popular games of the franchise. Following the recent release of the enhanced edition of the game in March 2025,Grand Theft Auto 5reached the noteworthy milestoneof being on the list of top 10 most played games twice at the same time, with both the legacy version of the title and its new re-release netting over 100,000 concurrent players individually.
New Law in Saudi Arabia and UAE Allows Release of Grand Theft Auto 5
Whether Rockstar Games sees an increase in profits, this news is ultimately a win for gamers in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Fans who would have otherwise sought different methods to play popular titles likeGrand Theft Auto 5can now simply make a legal purchase. The new 21+ age rating is the latest in a long line of decisions both countries have made to invest in the future of gaming, includingvery profitable investments in Nintendoless than a year ago.
As of May 2025,Grand Theft Auto 5has sold 215 million copiesworldwide. According toresearch from Niko Partners, the total number of gamers in this region is projected to reach 84.3 million by 2029, so it’s entirely possible that this legendary game could reach a quarter of a billion sales following its release in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking, but the math does seem to add up.
