By the will of God and under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the 5th Saudi Media Forum 2026 has appeared before us. This arrival comes at an exceptional moment in the profession’s history, when the media are not just news producers, but opinion formers, with influence over national security and the economy. Rather, it is the image of the nation at home and abroad.
(Saudi Media Forum)..
This comes several years after the massive transformation that Saudi Arabia witnessed under Vision 2030, where almost everything has changed… and questions remain.
Have our media changed enough?
From seasonal events to national projects
For the first few years, the forum was launched as a gathering platform for media leaders, experts, and content makers, and was successful in drawing attention to digital transformation.
Improving the Kingdom’s position in creating new media, the content economy, and regional and international influence.
Session after session, the forum was no longer just a “conference” but began to transform into a national project to build a new Saudi media mind beyond the traditional template…
A look into the challenges of generative languages, platform speed, and open worlds
its importance arises
Media is no longer a luxury
Because the importance of forums today does not come from the number of speakers or crowded venues, but rather from the fact that they are in direct contact with key issues.
• Intellectual security in an era of digital disruption
• Kingdom’s image in global media.
• Fierce competition for the hearts of the people and young people
• News becomes a weapon, information becomes a pressure tool
Media today is no longer a profession…
Rather, it is a soft sovereign responsibility.
And his real role…transformation
Speaking of media…
To the media industry
The forum’s role is not to repeat development slogans, but rather to move from explaining the crisis to designing solutions by:
• Connecting universities and the press to the real labor market.
• Create a national model for success in digital and technological media.
• Translate recommendations into executive programs whose results are measured one year later, not after the session.
And his presence: The most important thing is not who is present…but what will he take away?
Currently, the forum includes decision makers, editors-in-chief, influencers and ambitious young people. But the real value isn’t in the big picture.
But for a simple question:
What will each participant bring back to their organization?
What will actually change after the forum ends?
Did he achieve some of his goals?
Yes, the forum was a success
For concrete:
• Raise awareness about the importance of new media.
• Start a discussion on media economics.
• Gaining international and regional attention.
But there is still a long way to go, as its impact is measured not by the number of sessions, but by the number of policies changed, cadres rehabilitated, and platforms born from the Forum’s womb.
What is required of him now?
We enter a new year with new consciousness and more complex challenges than ever before. Saudi Media Forum 2026 requires:
1. A laboratory of ideas, not a speech hall
2. Project incubator, not a PR exhibition
3. Architectural rather than decorative platforms
We need a forum to create media.
• Unite, do not separate.
• Build, don’t destroy.
• He agrees without arguing.
• Discuss without excluding.
From Ahmed Said to today’s algorithms
You lived in the age of loud media, the age of Ahmed Said, where the voice was louder than the truth, as you said.
And when radio was the window
Only one in the world.
Today, everything has changed.
The winner will not be the one with the loudest voice, but the one who is algorithmically the smartest, the most professionally honest, and closest to the people.
Media is no longer controlled from studios, but from mobile phones in the hands of young people, or by trends that are born in a minute and disappear in an hour.
conclusion
——-
The Saudi Media Forum in 2026 faces a historic opportunity.
It will either be a bridge to new Saudi media or it will remain just a pretty date on the calendar.
A country of Saudi Arabia’s size and an ambitious vision for 2030 deserves media coverage.
Understanding the world… before that
he talks to him.
And he builds trust… before he asks for it.
Finally, I would like to express my condolences to my brother.
His Excellency the Minister of Information
salman al dosari
I would also like to thank Mr. Mohammed bin Fahd Al Harisi, brother of the Forum President, and his assistants for their tireless efforts and continued efforts to make this important media forum a success.
By the will of God and under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, we present to you the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026. This arrival comes at a unique moment in the profession’s history, when the media is no longer just a news outlet, but an opinion voice, influencing national security and the economy. In fact, it is the image of the nation at home and abroad.
(Saudi Media Forum)…
This comes after years of major transformations that Saudi Arabia has witnessed under Vision 2030, where almost everything has changed… and questions remain.
Have our media changed enough?
From seasonal events to national projects
In its early days, the forum started as a platform that brought together media leaders, experts, and content creators, and successfully brought attention to digital transformation.
Improving Saudi position in new media, content economy, industry with regional and international influence…
Over the years, the forum has evolved from a mere “conference” to a national project aimed at building a new Saudi media mindset beyond traditional molds.
And approach the challenges of language, platform speed, and open world for that generation.
Its importance lies in the fact that media is no longer a luxury good
And the importance of the forum today comes not from the number of speakers or crowded halls, but from its position at the forefront of major issues.
• Intellectual security in the era of digital chaos
• Kingdom’s image in global media.
• Fierce competition for the intelligence of citizens and young people.
• News becomes a weapon and information becomes a pressure tool.
Today, media is no longer a profession…
But soft sovereign responsibility…
and its true role has changed
From discussions about the media…
to media production.
The forum’s role is not to repeat development slogans, but to move from describing the crisis to designing solutions by:
• Connecting universities and media institutions to the real job market.
• Create a national model for success in digital and technological media.
• Turn recommendations into actionable programs whose results are measured a year later, not after a session…
And its presence. What matters is not who participates, but what each participant takes away with them.
Today’s forum will include decision makers, editors-in-chief, influencers and ambitious young people. However, the real value is not in the collective image.
But for a simple question:
What will each participant bring back to their institution?
And what will actually change after the forum ends?
And have we achieved some of those goals?
Yes, the forum achieved tangible success
in:
• Raise awareness about the importance of new media.
• Start a discussion about media economics.
• Attract international and regional attention.
However, there is still a long way to go, as the impact will not be measured by the number of sessions, but by the number of policies changed, human resources retrained and platforms emerging from the forum’s womb.
What is required of it now?
We enter a new year with new realizations and more complex challenges than ever before. Here are the requirements for Saudi Media Forum 2026:
1. A laboratory of ideas, not a speech hall
2. Project incubator, not a PR exhibition
3. A platform for building, not a podium of beauty
We need a forum to create media.
• Unite rather than divide.
• Build, not destroy.
• It is irrefutably different
• Things to discuss without excluding.
From Ahmed Said to today’s algorithms
You lived in the era of loud media, the era of Ahmed Said, where – as you said – the voice was louder than the truth.
And when radio was the only outlet
To the world.
Today, everything has changed.
The winner will not be the one with the loudest voice, but the one who is algorithmically the smartest, most professionally honest, and closest to the people.
Media is no longer controlled from studios, but from mobile phones in the hands of young people, or from trends that are born in a minute and disappear in an hour.
conclusion
——-
Saudi Media Forum 2026 is a historic occasion.
It can be a bridge to new Saudi media or just a pretty date on the calendar.
A country of Saudi Arabia’s size and Vision 2030 ambitions needs media that:
Understanding the world…previously
It speaks to it.
And build trust… before he asks for it.
And finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my brother.
honorary media minister
salman al dosari
And to my brother, Forum President Mohammed bin Fahd Al Harisi, and his assistants…for their diligent and continuous efforts in making this important media forum a success…
