📍 Riyadh – BETH | Analytical Report

Riyadh is preparing to host one of the region’s most significant media events, as the Saudi Media Forum (SMF) and the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) convene from 2–4 February 2026 (14–16 Sha’ban 1447 AH) under the leadership of Forum President Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi.
The event comes at a defining moment in global media transformation — a moment where the Kingdom steps forward as a rising center for content creation, artificial intelligence, and advanced communication technologies.

From its earliest editions, the Saudi Media Forum has evolved far beyond a conventional media gathering. It has become an open laboratory for ideas, a platform that brings together:
content, technology, artificial intelligence, investment, talent, and strategic communication.
This integration reflects the Kingdom’s vision of building a modern media ecosystem and a knowledge-based economy aligned with global shifts.

1️⃣ The Saudi Media Forum… A Platform Revealing the Shape of Media to Come

The forum, as outlined on its official website, brings together leading global institutions, technology companies, thought leaders, and innovators across traditional and emerging media. It offers analytical and practical tracks that touch the core of modern media production, including:

Media as an economic industry

AI-driven content creation

Understanding audience behavior through data

Strategic influence, locally and globally

New business models for media organizations

Intersections between media, technology, and digital transformation

Through these themes, the Forum becomes not only a place to exchange knowledge — but a platform to produce media knowledge.

2️⃣ FOMEX… When the Future Becomes Visible and Tangible

Running alongside the Forum is FOMEX – Future of Media Exhibition, a space that showcases next-generation production environments and technologies:

AI content labs

Advanced broadcast technology

Virtual production studios

New-generation editing and sound systems

Analytical and communication robots

Immersive and enhanced content experiences

FOMEX does not simply present tools…
It offers a complete ecosystem reflecting how media will be produced, consumed, and measured in the era beyond 2030.

3️⃣ The Strategic Significance of Hosting This Mega Event

Hosting the Saudi Media Forum conveys four key strategic messages:

1 — Building a sophisticated and competitive soft-power engine

Saudi Arabia is no longer a media consumer — it is becoming a producer and influencer.

2 — Shifting from “news transmission” to “analysis and influence creation”

This shift aligns fully with the BETH philosophy.

3 — Media as a pillar of the new national economy

As part of the knowledge economy, media is now a central driver of national transformation.

4 — Riyadh as a magnet for global media institutions

The diversity of participants reflects growing international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s media landscape.

4️⃣ The Saudi Media Awards 2026… A Moment that Brings the Entire Landscape Together

Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, President of the Saudi Media Forum, announced the launch of the Saudi Media Awards 2026, to be held during the Forum and FOMEX from 2–4 February 2026.
Al-Harthi emphasized that the Awards represent a tribute to creators and intellectuals, and a message of encouragement for the new generation of media professionals — supported by the Minister of Media, Salmān bin Yūsuf Al-Dosari, and in partnership with the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), one of Vision 2030’s flagship pillars.

Why the Awards Matter

The Awards expand this year into four principal tracks:

Television

Radio & Audio

Digital (including AI-generated content — the first award of its kind globally)

Print & Journalism

Special categories include:
Media Personality of the Year, Global Competitor Award, and awards recognizing the best national media campaigns (Founding Day, National Day, and Flag Day).

The Awards are more than recognition…
They are a national platform for establishing professional standards and producing internationally competitive content.

5️⃣ What Does It All Mean?… Reading the Saudi Media Moment

This ecosystem — SMF + FOMEX + the Awards — signals a profound transformation:

A new Saudi media identity is emerging

National talent is becoming a core engine of content creation

AI enters the newsroom as a partner, not a tool

Media becomes an economic industry, not merely a channel

Content begins telling the Saudi story with creativity and global relevance

Riyadh strengthens its position as a regional and international media capital

6️⃣ BETH’s Conclusion… When Riyadh Becomes a Global Anchor of Media Influence

What unfolds today is not a passing media event…
It is a redefinition of influence from Riyadh.

And in an era crowded with technologies, narratives, and content, the Kingdom steps forward to say:

The future of media will not be shaped only in the traditional capitals…
but in a city that chose to craft its message with awareness, lead its narrative with intelligence, and speak the world’s new language with confidence.