GTA V Finally Arrives in Saudi Arabia and UAE—12 Years Later

As the world continues to count down the days until the release of Grand Theft Auto VI—with memes piling up about what humanity has witnessed in the meantime—some regions are only just now gaining full access to Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online.

Specifically, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have only recently approved the games for official release. The delay was largely due to tougher local censorship laws and stricter age rating standards. Unlike most countries, where GTA V holds an 18+ rating, authorities in these regions assigned it a 21+ age restriction. The announcement came from the official PlayStation Saudi Arabia account.

You might be asking: why now, after more than a decade? A plausible reason is that Rockstar Games is working to unify and expand its global player base in preparation for the long-awaited launch of GTA VI. Ensuring wider access to previous titles could help reignite interest and boost momentum ahead of the next chapter in the blockbuster franchise.