Saudi Arabia and the UAE have introduced a new 21+ rating, allowing the release of more explicit video games. [Getty]
Almost 12 years after its debut, Grand Theft Auto 5 has officially launched in Saudi Arabia and the UAE after the conservative Gulf countries eased censorship laws.
Developer Rockstar Games released the blockbuster game to Saudi and Emirati gamers last week following the launch of new 21+ rating systems in the two countries.
GTA 5 is one of the most popular games of all time and has sold 215,000,000 copies since its launch in 2013.
The game has until now been banned in the conservative countries due to its graphic depiction of violence, drug use and sex.
The move by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to dial back their strict regulation of video games reflects a broader shift in attitudes towards entertainment traditionally seen as too controversial for the public.
The UAE in 2021 stopped censoring films released in cinemas after introducing a similar 21+ rating. A year earlier, Saudi Arabia lifted its multi-decade ban on cinemas and has since permitted the screening of some films banned elsewhere in the region.
Saudi Arabia began to reform content regulations in video games in 2016 when it introduced local age ratings in place of the European PEGI system.
This has allowed the country’s media regulator to introduce the new 21+ rating, paving the way for GTA 5 to be released uncensored to the Saudi public. PEGI’s highest rating is 18.
Saudi Arabia has previously allowed the release of mature games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and God of War – both rated 18 in Europe – after changes were made to some of the content.
The decision by the Saudi regulator to release GTA 5 comes as local firm Advanced Initiative Company sealed an agreement with Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive to distribute the publisher’s games in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi wealth fund is one of Take-Two’s largest shareholders.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most eagerly anticipated upcoming titles. The game was slated for release in autumn 2025 but was recently pushed back to May 2026.