Did Qatar block online game platform Roblox over safety concerns?

Players across Qatar have reported being unable to connect to the popular online game, with both the app and web versions showing errors.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab Staff

14 August, 2025

Qatar has blocked access to Roblox, one of the world’s most popular gaming platforms [Getty]

Gamers in Qatar were unable to access Roblox this week, with users reporting “No Network” errors on the app and being unable to access the website.

While there has been no official announcement by Qatari officials, the outage follows a wave of social media pressure urging authorities to act on alleged safety issues around the online game, which is popular with children of all ages.

Campaigns have warned of harmful interactions, exploitation of minors, and exposure to inappropriate content. If the reports are correct, Qatar would join countries such as Turkey, Oman, and China, where access to the platform has been restricted over similar concerns about child protection and content moderation.

Roblox is one of the world's largest online gaming platforms, attracting more than 88.9 million daily active users and offering tools to create and share interactive experiences. It has also been adopted by major global brands for immersive marketing campaigns.

Despite its popularity, Roblox has faced repeated scrutiny. In 2018, the UAE blocked it for several years over exposure to violence, explicit content, and swearing.

Turkey froze access in 2024 after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused online platforms of "fascism" and failing to remove offensive posts.

Roblox launches Arabic version

The disruption in Qatar coincided with Roblox's push into the Middle East. At the World Governments Summit on Wednesday, CEO David Baszucki unveiled a full Arabic-language version, including Roblox Studio, the mobile app, and automatic translation features.

"Anyone who’s building a Roblox experience in Arabic will automatically be able to translate it into other languages around the world," Baszucki said.

He added that child safety remains the company's top priority, pointing to over 200 AI systems monitoring activity.

Meanwhile, Qatari players remain unable to access the platform as they await an official explanation. The New Arab has contacted Roblox and the Qatari government for clarification.