Why Are Video Games Banned in Arab Countries?<\/h2>\nCultural and Religious Considerations<\/h3>\n
Islamic values heavily influence censorship decisions across the Arab world. Games featuring alcohol consumption, gambling mechanics, or religious mockery often face immediate restrictions. Content that contradicts traditional family structures or promotes alternative lifestyles typically gets flagged for review.<\/p>\n
Political and Historical Sensitivities<\/h3>\n
War-themed games set in Middle Eastern locations frequently trigger political concerns. Titles depicting Arab nations negatively or featuring sensitive historical events can spark diplomatic tensions. Games that reference Israel-Palestine conflicts or portray Arab characters as terrorists face particular scrutiny.<\/p>\n
Violence and Adult Content<\/h3>\n
Extreme violence, graphic sexual content, and nudity violate moral standards in most Arab countries. Games with torture scenes, sexual assault themes, or excessive gore get banned regardless of their artistic merit. Even mild romantic content between same-sex characters can lead to prohibition.<\/p>\n
Country-Specific Policies<\/h3>\n
Each Arab nation maintains its own censorship framework. Saudi Arabia operates one of the strictest systems, while Lebanon takes a more liberal approach. The UAE balances business interests with moral concerns, often allowing edited versions of controversial games.<\/p>\n
15 Banned Video Games in Arab Countries<\/h2>\nSaudi Arabia<\/h3>\n
![\"Saudi](\"https:\/\/ar-pay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Most-Banned-Games-SA.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
In 2018, Saudi Arabia banned 47 popular video games following incidents where two minors reportedly committed suicide allegedly linked to the “Blue Whale” challenge, an online game associated with harmful behavior.<\/p>\n
This ban was a response to concerns over the impact of violent or morally inappropriate games on youth.<\/p>\n
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- Grand Theft Auto V:\u00a0<\/strong>initially banned for violence, drug use, sexual content, and rumored links to suicides; recently unbanned with an age restriction of 21+ as of July 2025<\/li>\n
- Final Fantasy XVI<\/strong>\u00a0faced an immediate ban due to explicit romantic scenes and LGBTQ+ representation. The game’s mature themes and graphic content violated the kingdom’s strict moral guidelines.<\/li>\n
- The Last of Us Part II<\/strong>\u00a0got blocked for its intense violence and same-sex relationship storyline. Officials cited concerns about the game’s impact on traditional Saudi values.<\/li>\n
- Resident Evil 5 & 6<\/strong>: banned, likely for gore and violence<\/li>\n
- Heavy Rain<\/strong>\u00a0never reached Saudi gamers due to its nude scenes and adult themes. The psychological thriller’s mature content crossed too many red lines for local censors.<\/li>\n
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare\u00a0<\/strong>banned due to portrayal of Saudi Arabia in a negative fictional political scenario<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Iraq<\/h3>\n
![\"Iraq](\"https:\/\/ar-pay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Most-Banned-Games-IRAQ.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n- \n
- Fortnite and PUBG<\/strong>\u00a0faced nationwide bans after officials linked these games to youth addiction and social problems. The government expressed concerns about children becoming isolated and aggressive after extended play sessions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Oman<\/h3>\n
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- Roblox<\/strong>\u00a0faced restrictions after parents complained about inappropriate interactions between adult users and children. The platform’s chat features and user-generated content raised safety concerns.<\/li>\n
- Slime game:<\/strong>\u00a0banned from circulation in markets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Egypt<\/h3>\n
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- Gacha Life\u00a0<\/strong>was banned due to concerns over users generating explicit content in the app, aiming to protect young players from accessing inappropriate material.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Blue Whale<\/strong>\u00a0has been banned in Egypt after it was linked to several deaths among Egyptian teens. Authorities blocked websites hosting the game to protect young players from self-harm and family harm risks<\/li>\n
- Voice chat features in games like “Valorant<\/strong>” have been banned in Egypt due to national security and privacy concerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
United Arab Emirates<\/h3>\n
![\"United](\"https:\/\/ar-pay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Most-Banned-Games-UAE.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n- \n
- Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide<\/strong>\u00a0due to extreme violence and scantily-clad characters.<\/li>\n
- Roblox\u00a0<\/strong>was temporarily banned for child safety concerns but reinstated after improvements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kuwait<\/h3>\n
Roblox\u00a0<\/strong>is banned as of 2025 due to child safety concerns, inappropriate content, and promotion of values conflicting with local norms.<\/p>\n
Jordan<\/h3>\n
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- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)<\/strong>\u00a0is banned citing negative impact reasons.<\/li>\n
- Roblox<\/strong>\u00a0faced a shutdown in 2025 over similar safety and content concerns, though official confirmation is pending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Qatar<\/h3>\n
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- Roblox<\/strong>\u00a0ban since August 2025 citing social media pressure and concerns about harmful interactions and child exploitation.<\/li>\n
- Online gambling is strictly banned.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Algeria<\/h3>\n
- \n
- Roblox<\/strong>\u00a0got banned after reports of inappropriate interactions between users. The platform’s social features raised child safety concerns among Algerian authorities.<\/li>\n
- Online gambling is strictly banned.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Morocco<\/h3>\n
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- Manhunt and Manhunt 2<\/strong>\u00a0banned for extreme violence, though ban lifted with adult rating in 2023-2024<\/li>\n
- Postal 2<\/strong>\u00a0banned for extreme violence, homophobia, and other offensive content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Lebanon<\/h3>\n
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- Manhunt and Manhunt 2<\/strong>\u00a0were banned for “extreme violence and offensive depictions of cruelty,” but these bans were lifted recently with an R18 classification.<\/li>\n
- Postal 2\u00a0<\/strong>and its demos were banned for gross content including animal cruelty, violence, and other offensive themes.<\/li>\n
- Games like\u00a0“Criminal Girls: Invite Only<\/strong>” and\u00a0“Gal Gun: Double Peace<\/strong>” were banned for sexual content involving young persons and coercion.<\/li>\n
- There is a Hezbollah-produced game called “Sacred Defense<\/strong>” that sparked internal calls for banning due to concerns it promotes sectarianism and conflict, reflecting political tensions in Lebanon.<\/li>\n
- More generally, popular games like\u00a0GTA 5<\/strong>\u00a0face\u00a0purchase restrictions<\/strong>\u00a0on Lebanese digital platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
Video game bans across Arab countries reflect a delicate balance between embracing modern entertainment and preserving cultural values. While these restrictions frustrate many gamers, they stem from genuine concerns about protecting youth, maintaining social stability, and upholding religious principles.<\/p>\n
The gaming industry continues adapting to these regional requirements, often creating modified versions or working with local authorities to find acceptable solutions. As younger generations become more influential in shaping policy, we may see gradual changes in how Arab countries approach game censorship.<\/p>\n
- Postal 2\u00a0<\/strong>and its demos were banned for gross content including animal cruelty, violence, and other offensive themes.<\/li>\n
- Postal 2<\/strong>\u00a0banned for extreme violence, homophobia, and other offensive content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Online gambling is strictly banned.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Online gambling is strictly banned.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Roblox<\/strong>\u00a0faced a shutdown in 2025 over similar safety and content concerns, though official confirmation is pending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Roblox\u00a0<\/strong>was temporarily banned for child safety concerns but reinstated after improvements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Voice chat features in games like “Valorant<\/strong>” have been banned in Egypt due to national security and privacy concerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Blue Whale<\/strong>\u00a0has been banned in Egypt after it was linked to several deaths among Egyptian teens. Authorities blocked websites hosting the game to protect young players from self-harm and family harm risks<\/li>\n
- Slime game:<\/strong>\u00a0banned from circulation in markets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Roblox<\/strong>\u00a0faced restrictions after parents complained about inappropriate interactions between adult users and children. The platform’s chat features and user-generated content raised safety concerns.<\/li>\n
- Final Fantasy XVI<\/strong>\u00a0faced an immediate ban due to explicit romantic scenes and LGBTQ+ representation. The game’s mature themes and graphic content violated the kingdom’s strict moral guidelines.<\/li>\n
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