Saudi Minister of Media Inaugurates the Fourth Edition of the Saudi Media Forum

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari inaugurated today the fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2025 in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson The event is held under the theme “Media in a World in Formation” from February 19 to 21 at Hilton Granada Hotel in Riyadh In his opening speech Minister Al-Dosari stated that the forum outlines the Year of Influence, shaping the future beyond the present and chronicling the story of Saudi media, which aligns with the Kingdom’s ambitious vision He described Saudi Arabia as the greatest success story of the 21st century, with its media industry operating with future-ready tools and an unstoppable momentum He noted that in 2024 alone the Kingdom welcomed 24 world leaders contributing to the advancement of humanity and hosted more than 15625 events including conferences and exhibitions with a total attendance exceeding 42 million visitors which equates to approximately two events every hour throughout the year He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s role as a global center for hosting major international events such as Expo 2030, which will redefine innovation exhibitions and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, where sports experiences will be transformed through augmented reality smart broadcasting and cutting-edge production technologies Minister Al-Dosari pointed out that the media sector will generate approximately 150000 jobs by 2030 positioning itself as a hub for talent development and a catalyst for innovation He outlined key priorities for the Year of Influence 2025, including the development of a non-profit media strategy focused on social responsibility and volunteerism the organization of an International News Conference to establish the Saudi Press Agency SPA as a global leader in news innovation the completion of SPA’s historical archive digitization the launch of the News Journalism Fellowship Headquarters the regulation of the digital advertising sector and the establishment of a Media AI and Emerging Technologies Lab further enhancing the Kingdom’s leadership in AI-driven journalism and digital transformation He highlighted that the global media landscape is evolving through an interactive equation between humans and artificial intelligence stressing that creativity and innovation remain fundamentally human-driven He noted that Saudi Arabia is emerging as a global media innovation hub, where smart media systems integrate with AI big data and extended reality technologies From predictive journalism to immersive and interactive media the Kingdom is shaping the future of global communications showcased at the Future of Media Exhibition FOMEX, which will feature more than 250 leading global media and technology companies redefining the media and communication industry The Saudi Media Forum 2025 serves as a platform for professionals to explore local and international expertise identify opportunities within the rapidly evolving media industry and understand the strategic impact of media influence in the modern era Over three days the forum will examine transformations shaping television radio print digital platforms and emerging media technologies reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s role as a global leader in the future of media