Saudi Media Forum Unveils Grow Up Initiative To Transform Media Into Economic Driver

The 2026 Saudi Media Forum is turning the Kingdom’s media sector into a direct driver of growth. Through the SMF Grow Up initiative, creative work is treated as an economic asset. The programme links media activity to measurable GDP gains, supporting Vision 2030 and wider economic diversification plans.

Under SMF Grow Up, every media activity is counted as part of national economic output. Content, advertising slots, licences and distribution deals are treated as products with financial value. This approach supports new and existing media companies, helping them move from cultural influence to clear economic impact.

The initiative explains GDP growth through three linked pillars: content production, advertising and marketing, and media exports. Together, these pillars create jobs, attract funding, and connect Saudi companies with global audiences. Each pillar targets a specific stage in the media value chain, from idea to international revenue.

The three pillars of the SMF Grow Up initiative within the Saudi media sector are shown below in a simple format, highlighting how each part feeds into GDP growth and supports Vision 2030 targets through structured and trackable economic activity.

Content production covers television, cinema, digital platforms, radio, gaming and podcasts. These works generate income through production, sales, licences and distribution deals. This chain creates employment for technicians, writers and producers, while attracting local and foreign investment into studios, technology, and related services across the Saudi media sector.

The advertising and marketing pillar focuses on campaigns that bring work to specialist agencies and suppliers. Each campaign can create new positions in planning, design and media buying. SMF Grow Up prepares startups to compete for these contracts, which increases their turnover and deepens their contribution to Saudi GDP growth.

Media exports form the third major pillar. The initiative helps startups enter global platforms and sell content abroad. International deals bring in foreign currency, support the Kingdom’s trade balance, and improve visibility for Saudi stories. This export focus links creative work in the Saudi media sector directly to cross-border revenue streams.

SMF Grow Up also sets four strategic objectives. These include practical training to develop media skills, advanced learning environments to speed up professional growth, building business connections between startups and established companies, and selecting top talent for workshops and future programmes, encouraging excellence across all parts of the media sector.

Taken together, the SMF Grow Up initiative and the 2026 Saudi Media Forum present a structured model for economic use of media activity. By combining funding, expertise, training and business networks, the programme supports a stronger media industry that contributes to GDP, diversifies income sources, and advances Vision 2030 goals for the Kingdom.

With inputs from SPA