Minister of Media opens the fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh

Riyadh: Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary inaugurated the fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2025 under the theme "Media in an Evolving World." The event, held in Riyadh from February 19-21, was launched in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

In his opening speech, Minister of Media Al-Dossary confirmed that the Saudi Media Forum 2025 defines the "Year of Impact," a vision that extends beyond the present to shape the future. He highlighted the remarkable evolution of Saudi media, which mirrors the scale of the Kingdom's ambitious vision, calling Saudi Arabia the greatest success story of the 21st century. He noted that in 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia received 24 world leaders and hosted more than 15,625 events, attended by over 42 million visitors, an equivalent to two events per hour throughout the year.

Al-Dossary also stressed the Kingdom's growing role as a global hub for major events, ranging from Expo 2030, which aims to redefine innovation exhibitions, to the 2034 FIFA World Cup, where cutting-edge augmented reality, smart broadcasting and production technologies will transform the sports experience.

Looking ahead, the minister of media announced that the media sector is expected to create nearly 150,000 jobs by 2030, fostering talent and accelerating innovation. The "Year of Impact 2025" focuses on advancing non-profit media, social responsibility and volunteerism, alongside hosting an international conference on the future of news to enhance the Saudi Press Agency's (SPA) global influence. He added that key initiatives include digitizing SPA's historical archives, launching news journalism fellowships and governance policies for digital advertising to ensure regulation and transparency.

The minister of media highlighted that the world is now experiencing an interactive dynamic between humans and machines, presenting a creative challenge that is best understood by knowledge-driven professionals. He emphasized that the foundation of this equation begins with human potential, as true creativity lies in the ability to innovate, lead and shape the future.

He further stated that when discussing media, we are essentially talking about the future, a world driven by predictive algorithms, AI-powered journalism and robotic reporting. In this evolving landscape, Saudi Arabia is transforming into an open global laboratory for groundbreaking ideas, where smart media integrates with AI, big data, mixed reality and virtual reality. From predictive journalism shaped by data analytics to interactive and immersive media, a new era is emerging. This transformation is being showcased at the Future Media Exhibition (FOMEX), where over 250 leading media and technology companies worldwide are coming together to redefine the global media and communication landscape.

The fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum presents a valuable opportunity to explore local and global experiences in the media industry, assess the vast potential of new media and understand the role of soft power and its investment in the modern era. The three-day forum will delve into various aspects of the media industry, including visual, audio, print, digital and more.