GTA 5 Arrives in Saudi Arabia, UAE Ahead of GTA 6 Release

While the world eagerly anticipates Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar has now officially launched GTA 5 and GTA Online in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The 2013 blockbuster, which has sold over 215 million copies globally in nearly 12 years, had never been officially approved for sale in these two nations until now.

Concerns surrounding the game's mature content—including violence, sexual themes, and drug use—alongside strict local regulations had long prevented legal sales. As noted in a Niko Partners report, some determined fans previously accessed the game by importing physical copies or using international PlayStation and Xbox accounts.

Now, players can purchase GTA 5 legally under both countries' newly established 21+ age classification. This higher rating, building on localized age-rating systems introduced in 2016, helped facilitate the game's delayed release, with additional support from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive.

A new partnership between Take-Two and Saudi-based Advanced Initiative Company appoints the latter as the official local distributor for all Take-Two titles, including GTA 5, WWE 2K, NBA 2K, and Red Dead Redemption.

With a combined population of roughly 44 million, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now positioned as a key future market for Grand Theft Auto 6 upon its eventual release.

Following an extensive development period and a recent significant delay, GTA 6 is currently scheduled for launch on May 9, 2026, barring any further setbacks.