Overview

• On July 17, Gulf regulators granted GTA 5 an unmodified, region-specific 21+ age rating for its first legal sale in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• The release ends a 12-year ban that had driven players to import copies or use foreign digital accounts to play the game.
• Player feedback has ranged from relief at lawful access to frustration over the lack of Arabic translation and the strict age restriction.
• Industry analysts say the ruling may set a precedent for the unmodified approval of upcoming mature titles such as Grand Theft Auto 6.
• The move aligns with broader Gulf initiatives to ease content censorship and develop the regional gaming market.