While Grand Theft Auto 5 has been available for well over a decade now, the open-world best-seller hasn’t been available officially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
That changes today, as GTA 5 is now legally available in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, provided you’re of the legal age to get it.
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After 12 years since it launched, GTA 5 can now be purchased and played in both countries without resorting to backend means.
GTA 5 Given Surprise Rating Approval In Saudi Arabia And UAE
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Media Regulation and the UAE Media Council have approved the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 in both countries, with a 21+ rating. The game’s availability in the country was even shared by the official PlayStation Arabia X (formerly Twitter) account.
Bear in mind that this doesn’t mean the game has been unavailable all this time, as gamers in both countries had other means of accessing the game. They can either import it or create a digital storefront account from another country, which is normal to do these days.
Of course, having the game officially available in the country means fewer hurdles to owning the game. It also means it’s easier to gift to someone or buy on a whim.
Will this significantly boost the game’s sales? We can’t say for sure, but at this point, who else doesn’t own GTA 5, right? With over 200 million units sold worldwide, it might be harder to find someone who doesn’t own the game than someone who’s willing to buy it.
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GTA 5’s release in both countries couldn’t have come at a better time. While nothing has been announced just yet, this signals a move that Grand Theft Auto 6—easily the biggest game release of 2026—will be given a proper age rating when it’s released next year. Then again, I could be wrong, and both countries might have people wait 10+ years to officially release the game, but I wouldn’t count on that.
When it comes to GTA 6, Take-Two Interactive’s CEO says Rockstar is trying to create the best thing “anyone’s ever seen in entertainment,” and not just gaming.
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on May 26, 2026, for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. So far, Take-Two hasn’t confirmed the game’s price, although most expect it to be priced above the suggested retail price of games these days. Take-Two’s recent comment about it has not shed light on this whatsoever.
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Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
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September 17, 2013
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Engine
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Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
