Media in a Shaping World

Riyadh – AlUla | BETH

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect him – the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum will commence next Monday in Riyadh, running from February 2 to 4, under the theme “Media in a Shaping World.”
The forum brings together more than 300 media professionals, experts, academics, and specialists from Saudi Arabia and abroad.

The forum will host over 150 dialogue sessions examining the future of the media industry and exploring key challenges and opportunities facing media locally, regionally, and globally—within a vision aimed at developing a Saudi media sector capable of keeping pace with global transformations and contributing to shaping them.

From an Annual Event… to a Sustainable Platform of Influence

The Chairman of the Saudi Media Forum, Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, revealed that the forum is moving toward transforming from an annual event into a year-round media platform, supported by a series of initiatives and high-impact activities.
He noted that the current edition reflects strong international presence, with more than 300 speakers from approximately 45 countries, underscoring the forum’s growing global standing.

Al-Harthi emphasized that media is no longer merely a conveyor of information, but a strategic industry and economic driver, supported by initiatives in artificial intelligence, innovation, and media ethics.
He added that the forum is built around four main pillars: dialogue sessions, the FOMEX Future of Media Exhibition, the Saudi Media Awards, and development-oriented initiatives.

Media Shaping Awareness and Embracing Transformation

The forum highlights the evolving role of media in shaping national awareness, engaging with artificial intelligence, advancing deep storytelling, and exploring post-digital transformation impact—an approach aimed at building media influence that goes beyond coverage toward meaning-making, serving national objectives and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s global presence.

Key discussion themes include:

Global media challenges and response strategies

Media’s role in energy transitions and sustainable innovation

Crisis management and digital media infrastructure

Media and entertainment economics and investment opportunities

Media planning amid digital transformation

Artificial intelligence in journalism and content creation

The rise of documentary films as platforms of influence

The future of Saudi content in global markets

Audience experience: from reception to participation

Innovation in storytelling and visual production

Saudi Media Awards… Artificial Intelligence Enters the Competition

As part of the forum’s activities, the Saudi Media Awards have expanded across four main tracks covering 14 media categories, most notably the introduction of the AI-generated content category within the visual and audio content track.

This category represents a global first in the history of media awards, marking a fundamental shift in the creative industry and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead in AI-driven content production—merging human imagination with advanced technology and opening new horizons for creators beyond traditional frameworks.

FOMEX… A Window into the Future of Media

The forum also features the FOMEX – Future of Media Exhibition, bringing together government entities, media institutions, and local and international companies to showcase the latest media technologies and products, facilitate strategic partnerships, and host expert discussions and workshops on the FOMEX Stage with global speakers.

Saudi Media Forum 2026

How Is Quality of Life in Cities Measured in a Language the World Understands?

The forum opens an important discussion addressing a question that directly affects people’s lives: How can quality of life in cities be measured through a single global standard?

This question is explored through the session “Toward a New Global Standard for Quality of Life in Cities,” which presents a comprehensive framework for measuring human well-being across economic, social, environmental, and urban dimensions.

The session examines:

The conceptual and methodological framework of the global standard

The impact of unified metrics on global city competitiveness

The role of measurement in shaping sustainable urban policies

Prospects for international application and adoption

The session features Abdullah Al-Harbi, Director General of Performance Management at the Quality of Life Program Center, placing performance measurement, monitoring, and evaluation at the heart of the discussion as practical tools for translating concepts into actionable policies.

This session stands out as one of the forum’s most significant knowledge platforms, given its direct impact on understanding quality of life, city competitiveness, and future policy formulation.

From AlUla… Media as a Soft Power Tool

Forum activities officially commenced with the arrival of media leaders, decision-makers, and international experts in AlUla, the forum’s strategic partner—reflecting the integration of media with culture and tourism within Saudi Vision 2030.

Guests participated in curated cultural and historical tours highlighting Saudi Arabia’s civilizational depth, positioning AlUla as a global model combining human heritage with sustainable development.

The visit coincided with the launch of the “Our Land” exhibition, embodying the concept of a “museum without walls,” featuring more than 80 artworks by Saudi and international artists, reinforcing AlUla’s vision as a hub for contemporary art and global cultural dialogue.

This experience reflects the forum’s strategic use of soft power tools, with media serving as a key platform for conveying Saudi Arabia’s authentic image and strengthening its cultural, tourism, and economic presence worldwide.