The fifth Saudi Media Forum concluded in Riyadh after three days of discussions focused on the future of media in an AI-driven world, bringing together regional and international leaders to examine innovation, investment and digital transformation across broadcasting, publishing and digital content.
Held under the theme “Media in an Evolving World,” the forum highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position itself as a global media and content hub in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. Speakers emphasised that as artificial intelligence reshapes content production, distribution and monetisation, trust and credibility are becoming the most valuable assets for media organisations navigating a fragmented digital landscape.
Industry leaders noted that media companies are increasingly evolving into hybrid publishers, where audiences consume content across audio, video and text platforms under a single brand. AI was widely described as moving beyond newsroom automation to becoming a core operational layer influencing content discovery, personalisation and audience engagement.
Sessions also explored the evolving relationship between traditional broadcasting and digital formats, with discussions highlighting podcasting and on-demand audio as complementary to radio rather than competitive threats. Industry experts stressed that successful broadcasters are integrating streaming, podcasts and mobile platforms to reach younger audiences and deepen engagement.
The forum also addressed the growing importance of digital radio technologies such as DAB+, with regional deployments expanding across Saudi Arabia and other Middle East and North Africa markets. Speakers highlighted digital broadcasting’s potential to improve coverage, reduce costs and strengthen radio’s role in public service and emergency communications.
Overall, the event underscored the media industry’s ongoing transition toward AI-enabled, multi-platform ecosystems where technology, trust and audience relationships will define long-term sustainability and growth.
