Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud signed on Tuesday three agreements to set up an ambitious Media City project in the Kingdom.
The deals cover cultural, media and technical aspects of the city, which will serve as a unique global destination.
The project is located in the embassies neighborhood in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It includes cultural, media and technical departments that play a direct role in shaping the innovative industry, such as publishing, podcasts, film, social media, digital ads and education, virtual reality, photography, design, newspapers, magazines, radio and television.
The project offers diverse services to meet the demands of the cultural, media and technical sectors, such as studios, offices and residential and business zones. The project offers an opportunity to develop and boost the growth of promising SMEs and offers direct and indirect jobs.
The first agreement was signed between Prince Badr and editor-in-chief of the Al Arabiya and Al Hadath television network Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Rashed. It aimed to set up a new headquarters for the network within the new city, which will expand its regional operations.
Al-Rashed said Al Arabiya and Al Hadath’s new centers will be supplied with the most modern media equipment and latest technology in news, television and digital production. It will also boast a training center and another for news research and services. This will positively impact the network’s operation in Dubai and the world.
The second agreement was signed between executive director of the Media City, Dr. Fahd bin Msheit, and CEO of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), Saleh al-Dowais. It is aimed at setting up a main headquarters for the Group at the Media City in Riyadh.
SRMG Chairman Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Rwaita described the announcement of the project as an “important strategic step in Arab media”.
He said that the project matches the Kingdom’s global political and economic standing and will help “develop the media environment on all levels.”
The third agreement was signed between Prince Badr and Chairman of the MBC Group Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim. It aims to set up a new headquarters for the group in Riyadh within the Media City.
Ibrahim said that by setting up its new headquarters in Riyadh, MBC Group seeks to keep abreast developments in Saudi Arabia and benefit from the open and modern environment that embraces media and entertainment.
“We are working on strengthening our pioneering role in this vital sector and throughout the entire region, especially amid the massive developments that have taken place in wake of the constant reforms and modernization steps the Kingdom has been taken since its announcement of its Vision 2030,” he added.
Prince Badr said the Media City project is part of a series of major projects that are sponsored by the Kingdom’s leadership and that aim to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s wealth and capabilities.
The project cannot be restricted in one sector, “but it has taken us to unlimited heights in all future, knowledge, media and cultural sectors,” he remarked.
Prince Badr, who also heads the project, said the city aims to become one of the most innovative in the world.
“The Kingdom has the means and the will to forge ahead in achieving our goals that are backed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince,” he added.
