Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary launched on Monday the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh.
The minister stressed that the royal patronage of the forum by King Salman is a badge of pride and honor for media professionals, as it grants the forum broader dimensions and a deeper vision and views media as a tool for awareness and a means of development.
Held under the theme “Media in an Evolving World,” the forum is witnessing the participation of more than 300 media leaders and experts from over 20 countries. They will engage in more than 150 specialized dialogue sessions discussing the intersection of media with politics, economy, culture, technology, and innovation, with the attendance of international and regional think tanks, reflecting the Kingdom’s leadership in the media industry.
The forum is accompanied by the creative edition of the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), with the participation of more than 250 local and international companies.
Al-Dossary stressed the responsibility of media toward younger generations, noting that protecting future generations in the digital age is not achieved through prohibition or isolation, but through creating aware media environments governed by ethics and values and present content as a tool for building awareness rather than a commodity for consumption.
The objective of safeguarding children is to prepare them to interact with the world with confidence without losing their identity or moral compass, he added.
He announced the launch of 12 flagship initiatives at the forum, most notably the Saudi Media Innovation Bootcamp (Saudi MIB) in the fields of augmented journalism, intelligent content creation, and virtual presenters, in partnership with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
Other initiatives include the Tamkeen Initiative to support entrepreneurial ideas and startups, and the Numo Initiative in partnership with the Kafalah Program, to transform media ideas into sustainable business models.
Al-Dossary announced the issuance of the Artificial Intelligence Principles in Media document in partnership with SDAIA, to entrench the principle of responsible use of modern technologies and open the door to advanced stages of activation, support, and empowerment.
The minister announced the hosting of more than 2,000 content creators and influencers from over 90 countries within the Influence Track, as part of the second edition of "The ImpaQ Impact Makers Forum" in Qiddiya City.
He congratulated the winners of the Saudi Media Award 2026, held in partnership with the Human Capability Development Program across four main tracks and 16 categories. The award received more than 500 nominated works from over 20 countries, with international participation growing by more than 200%.
The first day of the forum witnessed several dialogue sessions and the launch of FOMEX, which includes exhibitor pavilions attracting government entities and local and international private companies to showcase their contributions and products in media, radio, and television, as well as a platform that allows exhibitors to present their services and innovations to visitors.
The exhibition includes the Launch Zone, a dedicated space where companies can showcase their latest media innovations and technologies and conclude strategic partnerships that help develop the future media ecosystem.
The FOMEX Theater presents comprehensive insights into the media sector through discussion sessions, dialogues, and workshops featuring leading local and international speakers, while also providing opportunities to sign cooperation agreements and partnerships.
