Saudi Media Forum: 100 Sessions And 300 Leaders Shaping The Global Media Future

The fifth annual Saudi Media Forum will run from February 2 to 4 under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The event will gather more than 300 media leaders and over 100 dialogue sessions, making it a major global meeting point for the media industry.

Organisers state that the forum aims to explore how media can respond to global changes, while reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s cultural development and openness. The event is presented as a space where decision-makers and professionals analyse trends and discuss future directions for media work at local, regional, and international levels.

The Saudi Media Forum is set to attract broad participation from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Canada, and South Korea. This international presence highlights the forum’s role as a meeting point for exchange of experiences between different media systems and for discussion of shared industry issues.

Through these diverse delegations, the Saudi Media Forum will bring together senior editors, executives, content creators, and policymakers. Attendees are expected to discuss news production, audience engagement, and regulatory developments. The mix of speakers and sessions is designed to allow comparison of regional practices and to highlight emerging models across the global media industry.

Alongside the main programme, the Saudi Media Forum has developed several specialised initiatives to support media innovation and skills. One of the most prominent is the Saudi Media Innovation Bootcamp (Saudi MIB), which focuses on the technological future of media through intensive training in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital product development.

Saudi MIB camps and programmes are intended to give participants practical tools for using data and AI in newsrooms and content platforms. The Saudi Media Forum also includes the "SMF GROW UP" initiative, which targets emerging media companies and entrepreneurs working in production, digital platforms, and supporting services, with the aim of strengthening early-stage projects.

Saudi Media Forum exhibitions and Future of Media technologies

The forum programme includes the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), which brings together government bodies and private companies from inside and outside the Kingdom. FOMEX pavilions will display new products and services across media, radio, and television, while a dedicated presentation stage allows organisations to explain their tools and solutions directly to participants.

Another feature is the "Launch Zone", a space where companies can present new media technologies and announce partnerships. This area is planned as a venue for unveiling digital tools, platforms, and content services that could influence the media ecosystem. Participants can explore cooperation opportunities and review how these technologies might be integrated into their own operations.

Overall, the Saudi Media Forum is positioned as a national platform that supports media cooperation, capacity building, and communication between the Kingdom and international partners. By combining dialogue sessions, training initiatives, and exhibitions, the event reflects Saudi Arabia’s current cultural and developmental momentum and underlines its continuing engagement with the evolving global media industry.

With inputs from SPA