RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman Al Dossary announced the launch of 12 new media initiatives, including a media innovation camp and a virtual broadcaster program, aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and transforming media concepts into sustainable business models.
The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of the 5th Saudi Media Forum 2026 held in Riyadh on Monday. The three-day forum, held under the patronage of King Salman, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, will bring together more than 300 media leaders, experts and decision-makers from more than 20 countries on four continents. This global gathering will be held under the theme ‘Media Shaping the World’.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Al-Dosary presented a document outlining principles for artificial intelligence in media developed in collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), reinforcing commitment to the responsible use of advanced technologies. He also announced that more than 30 documentaries and films will be produced this year under the Treasures initiative, highlighting the kingdom’s rich heritage and aspirations for the future.
The Minister stressed that protecting future generations starts with building a forward-looking media ecosystem. He pointed out that the royal patronage of the forum added a broader dimension and deeper vision, emphasizing the role of the media as an awareness-raising tool and a driver of development. He explained that Saudi Vision 2030 played a pivotal role in restructuring Saudi media into an integrated system based on values that guide decision-making and shape media policy.
Al-Dosarih revealed that more than 100 seats have been allocated this year in the “Media Scholarship” program, which trains Saudi talent at major international universities. He also announced the launch of the Saudipedia translation track in five international languages - English, French, Chinese, Russian and German – to share Saudi heritage, history and identity with a global audience.
He further revealed that more than 2,000 content creators and influencers from 90 countries will be hosted at the second ‘Impact Makers’ forum to be held in Qiddiya. He also announced the release of the second edition of the “State of Media in the Kingdom” report, along with new investment opportunities in this sector. He said that more than 250 domestic and foreign companies are participating in the creative edition of the media future exhibition “Fomax”.
Al-Dosary also highlighted that the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has launched a Media Research and Opinion Research Center, and that the Saudi Media Awards received more than 500 applications from 20 countries, increasing international participation by 200 percent.
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This year’s forum attracted over 300 media professionals, experts, academics and experts from within the Kingdom and abroad, and over 150 dialogue sessions on key challenges and opportunities. These discussions were aimed at developing the media industry at local, regional and international levels.
This year’s forum is particularly significant as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to drive qualitative change in the Saudi media, position it as an influential force and reflect the Kingdom’s growing maturity on the world stage. This forum will serve as a platform to highlight these achievements and explore future prospects for the media sector.
